The Trump administration is preparing to expand travel restrictions to include 36 additional countries—among them key U.S. allies like Egypt and Djibouti—according to an internal State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post.

Signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the memo was circulated to U.S. diplomats over the weekend. It gives the listed countries a 60-day deadline to comply with new requirements set by the State Department.

According to the document, some nations failed to meet specific benchmarks, including the inability to provide reliable identity documents or having a significant number of citizens who overstayed U.S. visas. In some cases, the memo cites the absence of a competent or cooperative central government as a concern.

However, the memo also offers a potential reprieve: countries willing to accept deported third-country nationals from the U.S. may receive more favorable consideration.

The countries facing possible visa restrictions, travel bans, or other penalties include 25 African nations: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The list also names Caribbean countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia; as well as four Asian countries—Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, and Syria—and three Pacific nations: Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Each country has until Wednesday at 8 a.m. to submit an initial plan to meet the new criteria. It remains unclear whether restrictions will be immediately enforced after the deadline passes.

This internal memo surfaces just a week after President Trump reintroduced elements of his first-term travel ban, announcing full bans on 12 countries and restrictions on seven others.

In January, the president signed an executive order directing the State Department to evaluate and flag countries with inadequate security vetting processes for possible suspension of travel.

These moves are part of Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which includes aggressive deportation efforts within the U.S. and sweeping international travel limitations. While his hardline immigration stance was anticipated in a second term, the speed and extent of these actions have raised concerns among lawmakers and the public.

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has identified Gifty Oware-Mensah — a former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA) and a current Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) — as a central figure in a massive GH₵548 million financial scandal.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, June 13, 2025, Dr. Ayine revealed findings from the “Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL)” investigation, which uncovered a sophisticated fraud scheme allegedly led by Oware-Mensah.

According to the Attorney General, Oware-Mensah is accused of fraudulently acquiring a GH₵30.6 million loan from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) by registering a company, Blocks of Life Consult, without the consent or knowledge of its supposed directors — one of whom was her husband, lawyer Peter Mensah.

The loan, which was meant to provide household appliances for national service personnel, was reportedly funneled into private accounts. Investigators allege that 9,934 ghost names were created to facilitate the diversion of funds. Of the total amount, GH₵22.9 million was transferred to AMAECOM, a company Oware-Mensah is said to direct, while other sums were disbursed to businesses linked to co-conspirators.

The scandal — first exposed by investigative journalism outlet The Fourth Estate — included falsified payroll records, inflated budgets, and collusion with vendors. Over a six-year period (2018–2024), the state is believed to have lost GH₵548 million, with a staggering GH₵350 million embezzled during the 2022/2023 service year alone.

Twelve NSA officials and eight vendors are currently facing a range of charges, including stealing, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state. Dr. Ayine disclosed that some vendors have agreed to cooperate with prosecutors under non-prosecution deals in exchange for their testimony.

“These fraudulent acts go against the core mission of the National Service Authority — to instill patriotism, discipline, and national development,” the Attorney General emphasized, pledging to recover every stolen cedi.

The State of Israel has expressed disappointment with the Government of Ghana for abstaining from a critical vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which declared Iran to be in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, the IAEA’s 35-member Board of Governors—chaired by Ghana—passed a resolution condemning Iran’s lack of cooperation regarding its nuclear program. It was the first such resolution in nearly two decades and could pave the way for Iran’s referral to the United Nations Security Council.

The resolution, seen by Reuters, states that Iran has repeatedly failed since 2019 to provide the IAEA with timely and full disclosure about undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple locations. This, it said, constitutes a violation of Iran’s Safeguards Agreement with the agency.

Tensions between the IAEA and Iran have escalated since the collapse of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, following the United States’ withdrawal under then-President Donald Trump in 2018. The vote comes amid renewed global concerns, with the U.S. recently evacuating personnel from parts of the Middle East and issuing warnings about growing regional threats.

The resolution—sponsored by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany—passed with 19 votes in favor, 11 abstentions, and 3 votes against, cast by Russia, China, and Burkina Faso.

Israeli Ambassador Criticizes Ghana’s Position

Reacting to Ghana’s abstention, Israel’s Ambassador to Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Mr. Roey Gilad, expressed regret, noting that Israel had counted on Ghana, a longstanding ally, to back the resolution.

“Ghana abstained from voting on Iran’s non-compliance with its nuclear program. We lobbied Ghana strongly, hoping for its support, but we were disappointed,” Ambassador Gilad told journalists during a press briefing at his residence in Accra.

He described Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a global security threat and criticized Ghana’s continued adherence to its traditional non-aligned foreign policy in such matters.

“Iran has openly called for the destruction of the Jewish State of Israel—a country Ghana has considered a friend since 1957. This vote was an opportunity for Ghana to show support, and we hoped for a different outcome,” he said.

Although Ghana’s abstention aligns with IAEA convention—where the Chair typically refrains from voting—Ambassador Gilad suggested this situation warranted an exception.

“Yes, Ghana chairs the Board, but this issue is of such vital importance to Israel that we believe it should have voted,” he added.

Call to Rethink Non-Alignment

While acknowledging Ghana’s sovereign right to make its own decisions, Ambassador Gilad encouraged a review of its long-standing non-alignment stance, especially in matters affecting global peace and security.

“We fully respect Ghana’s independent policy-making. However, as a friend, I believe it’s time to reconsider the non-aligned posture that dates back to Nkrumah’s era. In Israel, we constantly re-evaluate our policies—we believe it would be healthy for Ghana to do the same,” he said.

Relations Remain Strong

Despite the disagreement, the Ambassador emphasized that the incident would not damage the strong ties between Ghana and Israel.

“This will not overshadow our relationship, but it is a point of concern. We value mature partnerships, and mature partners must be able to discuss disagreements openly. We’ve done so in the past and will continue to do so,” Ambassador Gilad concluded.

The IAEA, established in 1957, is the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, mandated to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevent its use for military purposes.