Washington: The African Union (AU) on Thursday called on the US to adopt a travel ban policy that is ‘balanced, evidence-based, and reflective’ of long-standing bilateral ties, after Washington restricted travel from a dozen countries, several of them in Africa.

According to Anadolu Agency, the AU Commission acknowledged every nation’s sovereign right to border protection and security but expressed concern over the ‘potential negative impact’ on people-to-people ties, educational exchange, trade, and broader diplomatic relations that ‘have been carefully nurtured over decades.’ The AU emphasized the shared interests of Africa and the US in promoting peace, prosperity, and global collaboration.

The AU ‘respectfully’ urged the US administration to consider adopting a ‘more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue’ with affected countries. It called for ‘transparent communication, and where necessary, collaborative efforts’ to address any underlying concerns behind the travel ban decision.

The Trump administration announced a ban that prohibits travel to the US from a dozen countries and restricts travel from seven others, citing inadequate screening and vetting processes that hinder “America’s ability to identify potential security threats before entry.” The White House stated that Trump took the action following a report from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials.

The order specifically prohibits people from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from entering the US. Additionally, seven countries-Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela-will face partial restrictions and limited entry of their nationals.