The United States government has approved plans to reduce the number of its embassies and consulates across Africa handling visa applications from nearly 50 to just 20 regional processing centres, a move expected to affect travellers across the continent.
According to an Associated Press (AP) report citing US officials and an internal State Department memo, the restructuring is expected to take effect in June as part of broader efforts to streamline consular operations and tighten immigration controls.
The report said the decision was communicated to US diplomats, including consular chiefs, during a conference call held last Friday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly approved the directive last week, according to officials familiar with the development and the internal memo.
Under the new arrangement, only 20 diplomatic missions across African capitals will serve as visa-processing hubs. These are located in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Accra, Ghana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa; Dakar, Senegal; Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Djibouti; Kampala, Uganda; Kigali, Rwanda; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; Lagos, Nigeria; Lomé, Togo; Luanda, Angola; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Monrovia, Liberia; Nairobi, Kenya; Port Louis, Mauritius; Praia, Cape Verde, and Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Lagos is the only Nigerian city listed among the approved visa-processing centres, positioning it as a key regional hub under the new system.
While the exact implementation date remains unclear, the changes were expected to be rolled out within weeks.
The move comes about six months after the administration of US President Donald Trump recalled ambassadors from more than two dozen countries, including Nigeria, with African nations accounting for the largest share of those affected.
It also followed a series of measures aimed at tightening immigration procedures and reducing visa overstays.
Some African nationals, including Nigerians, already face the possibility of paying visa bonds of up to $15,000 as part of requirements for B1/B2 visitor visa applications.
In addition, African countries account for the largest number of nations currently subject to partial US travel restrictions.
Observers said the reduction in visa-processing centres could increase travel expenses and waiting times for applicants from countries that will no longer offer full visa services, as many may be required to travel to another country to complete their applications.
However, consular sections in countries that lose full visa-processing status will remain operational.
According to the AP report, such missions will continue to provide services to American citizens, including passport renewals, emergency consular assistance, diplomatic visa processing and selected cases considered to be in the national interest of the United States.
