Is southern Africa in the viewfinder of the American administration? In forty-eight hours, the United States Department of State announced suddenly at the restrictions of visas concerning Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Aimed goal: to fight illegal immigration to the United States.
On August 5, Washington launched a pilot program consisting in requiring a deposit of up to $ 15,000 (almost 13,000 euros) to the applicants for tourism or business visa in order “To guarantee that at the end of the period during which (And) foreigner was admitted (…) This foreigner will leave the United States ”. Two countries appear for the moment on the list of nations referred to by this measure which is to come into force on August 20: Malawi and Zambia.
In a statement, Zambian Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe spoke, on Friday August 8, of “Serious worries” as of “Potential economic repercussions on trade, investment, tourism and interpersonal exchanges”. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Malawite, Nancy Tembo, also worried about the introduction of a deposit on “Malawite travelers who respect the law”. However, she ensures the United States of the will of Malawi to respond to her immigration concerns.
Fight against illegal stays
Why were Lilongwe and Lusaka targeted? Asked, the US State Department specifies that the authorities target countries with a ” High rate of visas exceeding (exceeding) “” by their nationals, “Gaps in terms of selection and verification” Or offering the possibility of acquiring citizenship by investment without any conditions of residence. Of the “Foreign policy considerations” Can also be taken into account, specify the American authorities.
According to a report by the American internal security department published in August 2024, Zambia thus displayed a rate ofextension From 11.11 % in 2023. In Malawi, it rises to 14.32 %. In both cases, the rate is higher than the limit of 10 % beyond which the US government considers that the countries concerned must act to curb the phenomenon. But on the African continent or elsewhere, several states have rates of exceeding much higher temporary visas. Those of Congo-Brazzaville and Equatorial Guinea reach 29.63 % and 21.98 % respectively.
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