By Horn Africa News Staff | Mogadishu
Washington, D.C. — The United States has significantly reduced visa privileges for nationals of Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, in a policy shift that tightens entry conditions for most non-immigrant travellers from the three African nations.
According to the US Department of State, nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of the affected countries will now be single-entry and valid for only three months. This marks a sharp departure from the previous visa policies, which often granted multiple-entry visas valid for two years or more.
The US government says the move is part of a “global reciprocity realignment”, an effort to align US visa policies with how American citizens are treated in other countries.
While Nigeria has pushed back against the rationale behind the change—denying that it only issues three-month, single-entry electronic visas to Americans—US officials maintain that the adjustments are based on the principle of reciprocity.
This isn’t the first time these three nations—Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Nigeria—have come under strict US immigration scrutiny. All three were previously listed among countries affected by US travel restrictions or visa bans under earlier administrations.
The new restrictions are expected to impact thousands of travelers, including students, businesspeople, and families seeking to visit relatives in the US.
Observers say the decision could strain diplomatic relations and hinder cultural and economic exchange between the United States and parts of Africa.
Last month, even stricter measures were imposed on Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan -with the United States suspending all immigrant and non-immigrant visas to citizens of those countries.
