N’DJAMENA, Chad — In a bold display of national defiance and diplomatic reciprocity, Chad has announced the immediate suspension of visa issuance to United States citizens.
The move comes in direct response to a newly expanded US travel ban that includes Chad among 12 countries now facing tightened entry restrictions.
President Idriss Deby made the announcement in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
“I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to US citizens,” Deby said.
The US policy, criticised across Africa for targeting seven African countries in its latest iteration, has provoked diplomatic pushback.
Chad’s suspension marks one of the most assertive responses yet — a rare move from a Sahelian country often seen as a quiet ally of Western powers in counterterrorism and regional security efforts.
Deby’s statement carried a tone of national pride, evoking sentiments of sovereignty in the face of perceived injustice.
“Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and pride,” he added — a pointed allusion to recent reports of Qatar gifting a $400 million aircraft to US President Donald Trump.
Though Chad’s economic leverage may be limited, the president’s remarks signal a broader frustration simmering among African leaders over what many perceive as discriminatory and dismissive Western immigration policies.
The visa suspension may have limited immediate impact on travel patterns, but its symbolism is resounding.
Human rights organisations and African policy experts have criticised the US ban as arbitrary and lacking transparency.
In Chad, reactions to Deby’s move have ranged from nationalist applause to cautious concern over possible diplomatic and economic fallout.
