U.S. visa cuts on Africa—Is it really about reciprocity?
In recent weeks, the United States has implemented new visa restrictions impacting four African nations: Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Cameroon.
The U.S. Department of State announced a policy change as part of its Global Reciprocity Realignment, which aims to align U.S. visa terms with how other countries treat American citizens.
Under the new directive, student(F-1.J-1), tourist(B-1), and business visas(B-2) from these countries have been downgraded to single-entry visas with a validity of three months, a significant reduction from the previously granted terms.
But is reciprocity really the reason?
Nigeria was quick to respond. The presidential spokesperson dismissed online claims that the country gives U.S. citizens only short-term visas, calling it “misinformation and fake news”. He clarified that Nigeria still issues five-year, multiple-entry visas to U.S. passport holders. However, Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential aide, suggested that the U.S. policy might have more to do with Nigeria’s growing BRICS alignment than any visa imbalance.
In Ghana, Foreign Minister Okudzeto Ablakwa expressed concern and highlighted that Ghana offers multiple-entry visas to Americans, ranging from 3 months to 5 years.
Ethiopia and Cameroon have yet to comment on the issue. However, like Ghana and Nigeria, both countries reportedly offer multiple-entry visas to U.S. nationals, raising further doubts about whether reciprocity is indeed the true motivation behind these restrictions.
What could truly be behind these restrictions?
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
