The Trump administration in the United States has introduced new visa restrictions that will affect 75 countries globally, a list which includes 26 nations across Africa. These measures primarily target visas for prospective immigrants, commonly known as "green cards," but may also encompass certain categories of tourist and student visas. The suspension of these visas is scheduled to commence on January 21 and will remain in effect until the State Department conducts a re-assessment of visa processing.

Notably, Mozambique has been excluded from these new restrictions, identified as one of just four countries exempted due to its "significant economic, commercial or diplomatic relations with the United States." The other three African nations sharing this specific exemption are South Africa, Angola, and Madagascar. The U.S. State Department clarified that other African countries not on the list were generally excluded because they demonstrate "a satisfactory level of development, stability and cooperation, low migratory pressure, or strategic diplomatic and economic relations with the United States."

Beyond economic and diplomatic ties, some countries were excluded due to being deemed "politically sensitive," a category that includes nations such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, all of which have recently experienced military coups. Furthermore, countries identified as "stable and cooperative," like Botswana, Namibia, and Gambia, were also omitted from the restrictions. Interestingly, several smaller states, including Lesotho, Eswatini, and Sao Tome and Principe, were excluded simply because their citizens show limited interest in working in the United States, illustrating the diverse criteria applied in determining the scope of these new visa policies.