Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, said Tuesday that the US travel ban on his country will have no real effect.
Mangue explained on social media that fewer than 50 Equatorial Guineans travel to the United States each year, making the ban “of no consequence.” He added that the US is not a priority destination for his fellow citizens.
Last week, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation banning nationals from 12 countries, including Equatorial Guinea, citing national security concerns.
The countries affected are Afghanistan, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The ban has faced widespread criticism internationally.
Mangue emphasized that Equatorial Guinea is a peaceful nation that supports global security and maintains good relations with other countries. He urged his fellow citizens to refrain from traveling to the US until the policy changes, calling for unity rather than division.
