US President Donald Trump has imposed visa restrictions on citizens from 12 countries, including seven African nations, sparking concern and reactions across the continent.

The Republic of Congo, one of the affected countries, has claimed that the ban resulted from a misunderstanding related to an armed attack in the US. Thierry Mungalla, a government spokesperson, said the attackers were mistakenly identified as Congolese nationals.

He emphasized, “Congo is not a terrorist country; there are no terrorists here. This is a misunderstanding, and we expect our diplomatic officials to clarify the matter with US authorities soon.”

Alongside the 12 countries under full restrictions, partial bans have been imposed on seven more nations. Sierra Leone’s Information Minister, Chernor Bah, stated that his country is committed to addressing the concerns behind the restrictions and will cooperate with US officials to ensure progress.

Meanwhile, Chad has suspended visa issuance for US citizens in retaliation. President Idriss Déby announced the decision on June 5 via a Facebook post, citing reciprocity. He stressed, “We may not have planes or billions of dollars to offer Trump, but we have dignity and pride.”

These bans and reciprocal measures have introduced new tensions into US-Africa relations.