Summary:
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared visa restrictions, highlighting issues such as the marginalization of the LGBT community in Uganda and civil society advocates in Zimbabwe. Blinken’s remarks did not specifically identify any officials.
On Monday, the United States broadened its visa restriction policy for Ugandan officials, targeting those deemed responsible for undermining democracy and oppressing marginalized groups. Simultaneously, a new visa restriction policy was introduced for officials in Zimbabwe.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who made the announcement, cited issues such as the marginalization of the LGBT community in Uganda and civil society advocates in Zimbabwe. However, Blinken did not specify any individuals in his statements.
The visa restrictions initially imposed on Ugandan officials in June, following the enactment of Uganda’s stringent anti-LGBTQ law, have now been expanded. Blinken explained that the policy now encompasses current or former Ugandan officials believed to be complicit in undermining democracy or implementing repressive policies against marginalized or vulnerable populations. These include environmental activists, human rights defenders, journalists, LGBTQI+ persons, and civil society organizers.
Additionally, Blinken unveiled a new visa restriction policy for individuals undermining democracy in Zimbabwe. This comes in the wake of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa winning a disputed second term in August, criticized as a “gigantic fraud” by the opposition and election observers citing failures to meet regional and international standards.
Blinken warned that individuals undermining the democratic process in Zimbabwe, especially in the lead-up to, during, and after the August 2023 elections, could face ineligibility for US visas under the new policy.
