UK Plans Visa Ban on 3 African Countries

The United Kingdom is preparing to impose a visa ban on citizens of three African nations if they fail to cooperate in accepting the return of illegal migrants, as part of a sweeping reform of the asylum system and the Human Rights Act.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to restrict visa access for Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Under the new plan, tourists, business travelers, and high-profile officials from these countries could be denied entry to the UK unless their governments increase cooperation in deporting individuals who have no legal right to remain.

According to British media, the policy is inspired by measures previously implemented in the United States during the Trump administration.

Mahmood stated that the UK intends to enforce firm consequences for countries that refuse to take back their nationals who have committed crimes or entered Britain illegally. She emphasized that foreign governments must accept the return of their citizens if they wish to retain the privilege of visa access to the UK.

The Home Secretary is also expected to introduce a major restructuring of Britain's asylum rules.

A Commons statement scheduled for Monday will outline the new framework for granting asylum to individuals fleeing conflict and instability, marking one of the most significant overhauls of the UK’s immigration and refugee policies in recent years.