US Planned Visa Restrictions on ECOWAS Member States Sparks Concerns

The United States’ potential visa restrictions on Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states have sparked concerns about the impact on regional prosperity and trade.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, expressed these concerns at the 54th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council in Abuja.

According to Tuggar, such restrictions would pose significant barriers to trade, diplomacy, and regional development, particularly given ECOWAS’s vast resource base, including critical minerals like Samarium from Monazite found in Bauchi, Nigeria.

Tuggar emphasized that West Africa is a region of opportunities ready to engage in deals, especially with the US, but visa restrictions would hinder these efforts.

The proposed US policy would affect all 15 ECOWAS member states, which include Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire. These countries have been listed among 36 nations worldwide that may face travel bans or restricted visa categories due to alleged shortcomings in identity document verification and security.

Tuggar urged the US to reconsider its approach, highlighting the potential for partnership based on mutual needs and interests. ECOWAS countries are rich in natural resources and offer strategic alternatives to more distant energy producers.

Restricting travel would limit opportunities for government officials, business executives, and entrepreneurs to engage in deal-making.

The US has given affected countries a 60-day ultimatum to meet new security and identity verification standards. Failure to comply may result in full or partial entry bans, restricted visa categories, and strained diplomatic relations.

This development has raised concerns about the impact on international travel, education, and family reunification.