Niger has enforced a total ban on the issuance of visas to United States citizens, framing the move as a reciprocal response to Washington’s recent entry restrictions on Nigerien nationals.
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According to a report published Thursday by the Nigerien Press Agency (ANP), the country has “completely and definitively halted the issuance of visas to all United States citizens and imposed an indefinite ban on their entry into the country.” Citing a Nigerien diplomatic source, ANP said the decision is grounded in the principle of reciprocity, reflects a diplomatic posture aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, and signals an evolution in Niamey’s foreign policy.
The measure follows a U.S. decision to include Niger on a list of countries whose citizens are no longer eligible for U.S. entry visas. U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on December 16 expanding the list of countries subject to full or partial entry restrictions to around 40 states, with the measures set to take effect on January 1, 2026. Niger is among the countries facing full restrictions.
Niger has announced a complete, indefinite ban on US citizens entering the country after the US added Niger to the list of countries subject to a total travel ban. pic.twitter.com/VTzy2qa16y
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Niger’s response mirrors the U.S. action and indicates that Niamey will no longer accept unilateral restrictions imposed on its citizens without a corresponding response. Officials and commentators in Niger have framed the visa ban as a matter of dignity and equal treatment, arguing that freedom of movement should not be politicized or used as leverage against countries already facing conflict, sanctions, and external pressure.
The dispute unfolds amid a broader deterioration in relations between the two countries following Niger’s political transition in 2023. Since then, Nigerien authorities have recalibrated external partnerships, including ending long-standing military agreements with Washington and completing the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Nigerien territory in 2024. The shift has been presented domestically as part of a wider effort to restore national decision-making and reduce reliance on Western security frameworks.
Niger announces ban on US citizens from entering the country in response to the Trump administration adding Niger to its travel ban list.
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Within this context, the visa ban aligns with Niger’s broader drive to assert sovereignty in the Sahel, the region south of the Sahara Desert encompassing Niger, Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and parts of neighboring countries. The decision underscores Niamey’s position that international relations should be based on reciprocity and respect rather than unilateral measures.
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