Senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Freetown have confirmed that Minister Timothy Kabba has summoned the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone for a meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025.
The discussion is expected to center on Sierra Leone’s inclusion in a draft U.S. proposal that could impose visa restrictions or a travel ban on citizens from 43 countries.
A source within the ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Global Times this morning, “We do not want to get ahead of the proposed meeting between our Minister and the U.S. Ambassador.”
Officials have declined to provide further details until after the high-level diplomatic engagement.
This summons comes in response to reports indicating that Sierra Leone is among 41 countries under consideration for new U.S. travel restrictions.
According to an internal memo obtained by Reuters, the proposed measures categorize nations into three tiers based on the severity of the restrictions. Sierra Leone is listed in the third tier, which advises countries to address specific deficiencies to avoid partial suspensions that could significantly impact travel for their citizens to the United States.
Sierra Leone is classified under the “orange” category in the draft U.S. policy, meaning its citizens could face significant visa restrictions. The proposal, which remains subject to final approval, places countries into three tiers, with the most severe (“red”) category facing outright travel bans.
This development comes amid broader immigration policy shifts by the Trump administration, which has prioritized tighter entry requirements for foreign nationals.
The U.S. State Department has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.
