The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the U.S.’s attempt to impose visa restrictions on its member states, warning it will threaten regional prosperity.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, stated this while delivering his opening address at the 54th ordinary session of the mediation and security council at the ministerial level in Abuja on Wednesday.
There are reports earlier in the week that the Donald Trump-led US administration is considering imposing a visa ban and other travel restrictions on citizens of Nigeria and 24 other African countries.
The Washington Post reported that this was documented in a memo signed by the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and sent to the diplomats who work in the affected countries on Saturday.
In total, 36 countries are currently being reviewed for the additional ban.
Aside from Nigeria, other African countries listed in the memo are Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, and Niger.
Tuggar warned that such restrictions could stifle efforts to deepen US-West Africa relations, saying sustained prosperity is achieved through trade and investment, devoid of barriers.
He said: “It would therefore be remiss of me if I did not mention the apparent recent decision by the Government of the United States to include all ECOWAS countries in its visa restrictions (Togo was on an earlier list).
“This would be most unfortunate if it comes to pass, because we are a region of opportunities ready to do deals. We possess critical minerals and even rare earths such as Samarium from the Monazite found in my home State of Bauchi.
“We would like to do deals with the US, but visa restrictions are non-tariff barriers to deals. We in this part of the world are students of the Art of the Deal and have been part of the international trading system even before the modern state system.
“ECOWAS countries and the US have a rare opportunity to create a partnership based on principles of need. We are also a strategic alternative to more distant and politically divergent energy producers.
“So, we will do deals for our prosperity; the only question is with whom? Who takes up the opportunities in our region by allowing government officials and technocrats, business executives and entrepreneurs to travel freely back and forth to close the deals?”
Speaking about the meeting, he said the humanitarian challenges facing the region, ranging from forced displacement, food insecurity, and climate-related vulnerabilities to health and protection concerns, demanded not only their attention but their coordinated action.
“As we strengthen our peace and security responses, we must also uphold our responsibility to protect and support the most vulnerable among us,” he said.
Earlier, the ECOWAS Commission President, Dr Oumar Alieu Touray, said during the session, the committee would present the political and security situation in the region, including trends and developments, update on the transition process in Guinea and the negotiation process between ECOWAS and Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
“We will be updating you on maritime security in our region, as well as terrorism and transnational organised crime. We will also be presenting the outcome of the assessments of our Missions in the Gambia and Bissau,” he said.
