By SCM Staff Writer
NIGER has slammed its borders shut to all American citizens in a dramatic “tit-for-tat” retaliation against President Donald Trump’s latest travel ban.
The military-led government in Niamey announced a total block on U.S. nationals entering the country, effective immediately.
The move is a direct response to the White House’s decision earlier this month to include the West African nation on a list of countries facing severe visa restrictions.
The ban is total, covering everything from high-level diplomatic missions and commercial business trips to humanitarian aid operations and holiday tourism.
”Niger has completely suspended the process of granting visas to U.S. citizens,” a diplomatic source confirmed.
“A decision has been made to permanently prevent U.S. citizens from entering the country’s territory based on the principle of reciprocity.”
The escalating row marks a fresh low in relations between Washington and the Sahel nation.
Since a 2023 coup ousted the country’s Western-allied president, the ruling junta has moved to kick out Western forces and align itself more closely with Russia.
The White House recently expanded its “Protecting the United States” travel ban, adding Niger alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, citing concerns over terrorism and “inadequate” security screening.
In Niamey, the move was seen as a slap in the face. Government officials say they are simply defending their national sovereignty by applying the same “hostile” rules to Americans that Trump has imposed on them.
The travel freeze is expected to cause chaos for aid agencies working in the region and effectively ends any remaining U.S. diplomatic influence in a country that was once Washington’s primary counter-terrorism hub in Africa.
