- The US has broadened the scope of its visa ban on Ugandan officials to include individuals it holds accountable for sabotaging democracy and suppressing minority populations.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken unveiled the policy, which covers organizations like Zimbabwe’s civil society champions and Uganda’s LGBT community.
- Considered to be among the most anti-LGBTQ laws in the world, Uganda’s law was passed in May and imposes the death sentence for “aggravated homosexuality,” which includes HIV transmission through gay sex.
- Following the law’s passing in June, the US State Department placed limitations on Ugandan officials’ ability to travel. A new strategy for people he feels are harming Zimbabwe’s democracy is also included in the proposal.
- August saw a contentious poll that resulted in Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa winning a second term. Election monitors have criticized the election, calling it a “gigantic fraud” and claiming it did not adhere to international and regional norms.
- According to Blinken, anybody who taints Zimbabwe’s democratic process—including before, during, or after the country’s August 2023 elections—may find themselves ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy.
Source:
Reuters