Latest news with #DRC
Al Jazeera
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Is Trump planning an ‘Africa visa ban'?
United States President Donald Trump could significantly expand his travel ban list in the next few weeks to include 36 more countries, 26 of which are in Africa, US media reports say, citing internal government documents. With 10 countries already included on Trump's initial list, citizens of 36 of Africa's 54 nations could now be banned, fully or partially, from entering the US if the new list takes effect. This would make Africa the most-banned region of the world when it comes to travelling to the US. The visa bans are part of Trump's promised immigration crackdown, which has been in motion since he took office in January, and which has already seen citizens of 19 countries in Africa and the Middle East banned or severely restricted from entering the US. In a memorandum sent to US representatives in the affected countries on June 14, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the governments of those countries had been given 60 days to meet standards dictated by the Department of State. The memo also requested that those countries provide an initial action plan in line with meeting those measures by June 18. That deadline has now passed. It is unclear if any of those countries have submitted the requested plans of action. Here's what we know about the possible Africa travel bans and who could be affected: Of the 36 new countries mentioned in the reported memo, 26 are in Africa: Angola; Benin; Burkina Faso; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); Djibouti; Ethiopia; Egypt; Gabon; The Gambia; Ghana; Ivory Coast; Liberia; Malawi; Mauritania; Niger; Nigeria; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; South Sudan; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; and Zimbabwe. Others on the list are in the Caribbean, Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East: Antigua and Barbuda, Bhutan, Cambodia, Dominica, Kyrgyzstan, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Syria, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Countries which fail to address concerns raised by the Trump administration adequately could be recommended for a ban as early as August, the memo says. Seven African countries were included on Trump's first list of 12 countries completely banned from entering the US from June 4. They are Somalia, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Libya, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan. Three others – Sierra Leone, Burundi and Togo – were named on a separate list of seven countries which now face partial restrictions on their citizens, meaning some limited US visa categories are still open to them. This brings the total to 36 of Africa's 54 countries on a potential ban list for travel to the US. Saturday's memo gave a wide range of reasons for a potential ban on the countries affected. It did not provide justifications specific to each country, but cautioned that countries had been flagged for separate reasons. Some of the countries are designated as 'sponsors of terrorism' or have citizens who were 'involved with acts of terrorism in the United States', according to one reason given. Others, as per the memo, do not have a credible 'government authority to produce reliable identity documents', have unreliable criminal records, or sell citizenship to people who do not live in their countries. High rates of visa overstays by citizens of some countries were also cited as reasons to curb travellers, as well as a lack of cooperation by states when it comes to taking back citizens who have been deported from the US. Affected countries could address US concerns by agreeing to accept back deportees – even those originating from other countries – or agreeing to become a 'safe third country' that will take in people seeking asylum in the US, the memo stated. Mineral-rich DRC proposed such a deal to the White House in March. In early June, when the first travel ban list was released, Trump stated in a video message released by the White House that a recent attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, 'underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted'. Suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national who has also lived in Kuwait, has since been arrested and charged with a federal hate crime and several other state charges. His wife and five children are presently detained by US immigration officials. Egypt is now being considered for a ban, although Kuwait is not on either list of countries facing visa bans. This is not the first time Trump has banned citizens of other countries, which critics point out tend to be non-white and low-income nations. During his first presidential term, a controversial and highly-challenged policy, which came to be known as the 'Muslim ban', saw seven Muslim-majority countries on a red list that later expanded to include some low-income African nations. Former President Joe Biden rescinded the ban when he took office in 2021. About two million of the US's 44 million immigrant population come from African nations, according to data from the US-based Migration Policy Institute. Nearly half of African immigrants migrated to the US after 2010, according to the US Census Bureau, and represent the fastest-growing immigrant bloc in recent years. Many African immigrants are highly educated with one or more degrees, and represent the largest immigrant group in the labour force, the bureau reported. About 61 percent are naturalised US citizens. Here's a breakdown of immigrant numbers by country between 1960 and 2023, according to data from the Migration Policy Institute: Trump's travel bans are likely to cause a great deal of uncertainty for people who already live in the US, experts say. Michelle Mittelstadt, director of communications at the Migration Policy Institute, told Al Jazeera at the time of the first travel ban announcement: 'For citizens of these countries living in the US who are not naturalised citizens, the travel ban most likely will freeze them in place, as many will be fearful that they might not be permitted re-entry if they leave the US temporarily.' Mittelstadt added that the travel ban could split families, 'given the inability to travel legally to the US or apply for a permanent or temporary visa, as well as the immobility this will confer on many citizens of these countries who are already in the US'. According to Statista, about 588,177 visitors from Africa travelled to the US in 2024. A historical breakdown by country is not available. This year, no African country is on the list of the top 20 countries visiting the US, according to data from the US Department of Commerce. About 100,000 visitors have been recorded so far, from the African continent, mostly from: Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar warned this week that the US could miss out on essential and rare earth mineral deals if it bans citizens of West African countries. 'This would be most unfortunate if it comes to pass because we are a region of opportunities ready to do deals,' Tuggar, who currently chairs the regional bloc Economic Community of West Africa's (ECOWAS) council of foreign ministers, said in a meeting with his counterparts. He cited Nigeria's reserves of oil and gas. The country is also rich in tantalite and uranium. Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South programme at US think tank Quincy Institute, told Al Jazeera that visa bans were akin to 'building walls' between the US and targeted regions. 'Africa, particularly, is important to the United States as it is a site of natural resources, a growing market, and a talented population,' Shidore said. 'If Washington wants to restrict migration and travel from the continent, it should find other, non-militarised ways of demonstrating US commitment to stronger relations with African states.' Trump has indeed appeared to be keen on striking deals for rare earth minerals, crucial for the manufacturing of smartphones and electric vehicle batteries. For example, Washington and Beijing are set to sign an agreement that will see China provide rare earth elements and minerals crucial for manufacturing tech gadgets and weapons, in exchange for continued access to US schools for Chinese students, according to a social media post by Trump last week. Last month, the US also announced an agreement with Ukraine over rare earth minerals in return for assistance in rebuilding the country once the war with Russia is over. When the first travel ban list was announced at the start of June, Chad responded to its inclusion by suspending visas for US citizens. In a Facebook post, President Idriss Deby said: 'I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to US citizens.' According to the most recent figures from the US Department of Homeland Security, nationals of Chad had the highest visa overstay rate, at 49.5 percent of those arriving in the country. Other affected African nations have struck a more conciliatory tone. Sierra Leone's Information Minister Chernor Bah said in a statement that his country was ready to cooperate with the US. 'Our attitude to this is, what more can we do? How can we collaborate with our US partners, with whom we have and believe will maintain a very good relationship,' he said. Trump's initial proclamation in early June said Sierra Leone, which is now subject to partial restrictions, 'has historically failed to accept back its removable nationals'. Somalia's ambassador to the US, Dahir Hassan, said the East African country wanted to work with the US. 'Somalia values its longstanding relationship with the United States and stands ready to engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised,' he said. Trump's proclamation described Somalia as 'a terrorist safe haven' and stated: 'Somalia lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.' The African Union, meanwhile, in a statement on June 5, called on the US to adopt a more constructive approach and to dialogue with African nations to maintain what it said were historically strong ties. 'The African Union respectfully calls upon the US Administration to consider adopting a more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned. The Commission appeals for transparent communication, and where necessary, collaborative efforts to address any underlying issues that may have informed this decision,' the AU statement said.
Zawya
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Trump plan near success as Congo, Rwanda initial peace deal
The negotiating teams from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have initialled the text of a prospective peace agreement between the two countries, signalling the success of the US-led mediation in ending their long-standing tensions. The teams approved the text in the presence of US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and will now await the ministerial signing of the peace agreement on June 27, 2025, in the presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the US State Department announced on Wednesday. Initialling a document signals that discussions are complete and that both parties are satisfied with the provisions in the text. However, this does not constitute a commitment to implementation until the formal signing by senior diplomats designated by the respective countries. One key area on which the two sides have agreed is the conditional reintegration of non-state armed groups, returning to a solution that Congo has tried before but which has previously collapsed due to mistrust. Rwanda and the DRC have blamed each other over the past decade for fuelling rebellion targeting their respective administrations. President Felix Tshisekedi has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which has now seized large swathes of territory in eastern Congo. But, Kigali denies the allegations and also blames Kinshasa for shielding the FDLR, the remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. From the outset, the peace deal is predicated on the premise that both sides will eject foreign fighters and cease backing rebels targeting each other. However, it is unclear whether the steps to end the conflict will differ from previous attempts, such as the initial integration of the M23 into the army, which ultimately failed. They accused the government of marginalisation. Washington dealThe Washington deal was drafted during three days of constructive dialogue on political, security and economic interests. The initialling towers earlier suspicions that some sides were leaking documents to the public, which saw Rwanda initially threaten not to sign. It also includes the establishment of a joint security coordination mechanism incorporating the Conops (concept of operations) of 31 October 2024, and the facilitation of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as ensuring humanitarian access. There is also a framework for regional economic integration. This information was also disclosed by Tina Salama, spokesperson for President Tshisekedi. Representatives from Qatar were also involved in the discussions, and their efforts have successfully led to the peace process between the M23 rebels and the DRC government. Qatar's presence at the discussions between Rwanda and the DRC was intended to ensure that the two countries' initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and peace in the region were complementary and aligned. Tensions have been further exacerbated by the presence of former President Joseph Kabila in Goma, with the Kinshasa authorities seeking his arraignment for alleged treason. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Focus on Africa Nigeria: What's behind Benue state attacks?
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has ordered security agencies to bring an end to the wave of killings in Benue state. It's believed that more than 200 people were killed in attacks across various communities. What's behind the increase in violence? Also, a young man from the DRC is on the path to sainthood in the Catholic Church. Who was he and what did he do to achieve this? And we discuss the state of the book industry on the continent, following the first ever UNESCO report on the issue, with one of the authors of the report, Elitha van der Sandt and the internationally acclaimed Nigerian author, Lola Shoneyin. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Sunita Nahar and Wedaeli Chibelushi Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
DR Congo and Rwanda sign draft peace agreement
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have signed a provisional agreement aimed at stopping the conflict in eastern DRC, according to a joint statement from the two countries and the United States Department of State. The development late on Wednesday in Washington, DC, came after 'three days of constructive dialogue regarding political, security, and economic interests', the statement said. The draft agreement contains provisions on issues including disarmament, the integration of non-state armed groups and the return of refugees and internally displaced people. Eastern DRC has been riven by conflict for decades, with armed groups competing for access to natural resources. Fighting in the region escalated in January when the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group captured Goma, the mineral-rich area's largest city. A few weeks later, the group seized the strategic town of Bukavu. Rwanda denies supporting the rebels. Thousands of people have been killed in the region and hundreds of thousands of others displaced since the conflict intensified earlier this year. Several of the parties to the conflict have been accused of carrying out human rights abuses. In a report published in May, Amnesty International accused M23 of torturing and killing civilians. 'These acts violate international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes,' Amnesty said at the time. On Monday, Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said that the rebels, DRC troops and allied armed groups had all carried out human rights abuses. Turk called on all sides 'to commit immediately to a ceasefire and resume negotiations, and to respect international humanitarian and human rights law'. The US hopes to bring an end to the fighting and to unlock billions of dollars of Western investment in the eastern DRC, which has large mineral reserves including cobalt, copper, gold and lithium. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described the twin aims of peace and investment as a 'win-win'. As part of the diplomatic efforts, Massad Boulos, the US envoy to Africa, travelled to the DRC and Rwanda in April. During his visit, he urged Kigali to end its support for the M23 rebels. Although the African countries have agreed to at least six truces since 2021, none has lasted. Angola stepped down in March from its role as mediator, with the US and Qatar currently leading efforts to secure peace in the eastern DRC. The draft agreement is due to be formally signed on June 27 by ministers from the DRC and Rwanda in the presence of Rubio.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Gossip: Forest target Wissa handed big price tag
Brentford have put a £50m price tag on striker Yoane Wissa, with the 28-year-old DR Congo international a target for Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Arsenal, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray. (Teamtalk), externalWant more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport
