ADDIS ABABA
The African Union (AU) on Thursday called on the US to adopt a travel ban policy that is “balanced, evidence-based, and reflective” of long-standing bilateral ties, after Washington restricted travel from a dozen countries, several of them in Africa.
Acknowledging every nation’s sovereign right to border protection and security, the AU Commission said in a statement it is concerned over “potential negative impact” on people-to-people ties, educational exchange, trade, and the broader diplomatic relations that “have been carefully nurtured over decades.”
It highlighted the common interests of Africa and the US in fostering peace, prosperity, and global collaboration.
The AU “respectfully” urged the US administration to consider adopting a “more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue” with affected countries, calling for “transparent communication, and where necessary, collaborative efforts” to address any underlying concerns behind the travel ban decision.
The Trump administration announced Wednesday evening a ban that is set to prohibit travel to the US from a dozen countries and restrict travel from seven others, citing inadequate screening and vetting processes, which hinder “America’s ability to identify potential security threats before entry.”
The White House said in a statement that Trump took the action after reviewing a report from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials.
Trump’s order specifically prohibits people from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the US. An additional seven countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela — will face partial restrictions and limited entry of their nationals.
The ban and restrictions are set to take effect at 12.01 am Eastern Time on Monday.
