Chad has announced the suspension of visa issuance to U.S. citizens, following the inclusion of Chadian nationals in a recent U.S. travel ban affecting 12 countries, including seven in Africa.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby made the announcement via Facebook on Thursday, citing the principle of reciprocity in response to Washington’s decision.
“I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens,” Déby stated.
The move comes after the United States added Chad to a list of nations facing new travel restrictions. While the U.S. government has not publicly detailed the reasons for including Chad, the decision has sparked diplomatic tensions.
“Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and pride,” Déby added, in a pointed remark referencing Qatar’s previous gift of a \$400 million aircraft to then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
The U.S. travel ban includes multiple African countries, drawing criticism from regional leaders who view it as discriminatory and damaging to bilateral relations.