NAIROBI, June  5, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - African authorities and citizens
expressed shock and dismay on Thursday over the abrupt decision by the Trump
administration to impose travel bans on people from a string of countries on
the continent.

African nations made up seven of the 12 countries banned from entering the
United States under the decree signed Wednesday by President Donald Trump.

They are Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya,
Somalia and Sudan.

The African Union (AU) said in a statement that the ban would harm
"people-to-people ties, educational exchange, commercial engagement, and
broader diplomatic relations" built with the US over decades.

It appealed to Washington to adopt a "consultative approach and to engage
in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned".

Trump said the move was spurred by an attack on a Jewish protest in
Colorado by an Egyptian man, even though Egypt was not included in the travel
ban.

He also imposed a ban on travellers from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Iran
and Yemen.

Chad's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul told AFP the government was
"surprised by this announcement and even more by the terrorism-related reason
(which) completely disregards Chad's commitment and results in this area."

In the Somali capital Mogadishu, the government did not immediately respond
to the ban but there was anger on the streets.

"I totally disagree with the president of the United States' decision," one
resident, Salad Abdullahi Mohamed, told AFP.

"Somali immigrants reached there after a long hazardous trip to get a
better life," he said.

Another resident, Ali Abdullahi Ali, agreed that Somali migrants were
simply looking "to make a better living and help their parents".

"I would call on the president to make this decision null and void and also
give necessary documents to stay and continue living and working there," he
added.