Chad has suspended the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens following its inclusion on a U.S. travel ban list targeting 12 countries. President General Mahamat Idriss Deby announced the decision on Thursday via a statement posted on Facebook.
“I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens,” Deby declared, describing the move as a matter of national dignity rather than geopolitics.
The U.S. travel ban includes seven African nations, among them Chad. President Deby’s response signals discontent with what he views as an unjust and disrespectful classification. In a veiled reference to international dynamics, Deby remarked, “Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and pride,” alluding to Qatar’s controversial $400 million aircraft gift to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The move marks a significant strain in U.S.-Chad relations and adds to growing tensions over American immigration policies in Africa. The Chadian government has not yet specified how long the suspension will last or whether it will affect existing visa holders.
The visa standoff comes just days after President Deby attended a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace during the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris, where regional cooperation and diplomacy were top of the agenda.
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