Travel Restrictions Loom: Trump Administration Targets Cameroonian Passport

The report reveals that the U.S. State Department, Department of Homeland Security, National Intelligence Directorate, and Consular Services have categorized 43 nations into three groups:

• Red list: Countries whose citizens could face a complete travel ban to the U.S.
• Orange list: Nations whose citizens could be subjected to specific entry restrictions.
• Yellow list: Countries, including Cameroon, that have 60 days to comply with U.S. security requirements or risk moving to the orange or red lists.

U.S. Concerns Over Cameroon’s Security Practices

According to the report, the U.S. government has requested greater transparency in Cameroon’s travel security procedures. Authorities in Yaoundé must:

• Provide detailed passenger information on those traveling to the U.S.
• Strengthen passport security measures to prevent fraudulent documents.
• Halt the alleged sale of Cameroonian citizenship to nationals from countries already banned by the U.S.

The specific criteria used to designate Cameroon in the yellow category remain unclear. The Biden administration has yet to release an official statement detailing the full rationale behind Cameroon’s inclusion on the list.

Diplomatic Relations and Corruption Concerns

Observers note that while U.S.-Cameroon relations have been stable, Washington has repeatedly criticized corruption in the country. The U.S. has flagged weaknesses in Cameroon’s identity document system, suggesting vulnerabilities in passport issuance and national ID processing, despite recent efforts by Yaoundé to digitize the system.

“The U.S. administration likely wants Cameroon to enhance its border security measures,” a diplomatic analyst in Washington, D.C., told Cameroon Concord.

Potential Consequences for Cameroonians

If Cameroon fails to meet U.S. security demands within 60 days, travel restrictions could affect:

• Students pursuing education in the U.S.
• Businesspeople who rely on U.S. trade connections.
• Tourists planning to visit American destinations.
• Family reunifications for Cameroonians with relatives in the U.S.

So far, the Cameroonian government has not issued an official response to these developments. However, diplomatic sources indicate that negotiations between Yaoundé and Washington could be underway to prevent Cameroon from moving to a higher-risk category.

As the 60-day deadline approaches, all eyes will be on Cameroon’s next steps to address U.S. security concerns and prevent travel restrictions for its citizens.