Africa faces gunboat diplomacy ... without the gunboats

The United States has imposed visa restrictions on several African countries, including Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, citing security concerns and immigration control. On September 15, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced restrictions targeting individuals involved in policies deemed harmful to US interests, without naming specific persons. These measures demonstrate the use of access control as a political tool, with potential implications for figures like Julius Malema in South Africa. This form of diplomacy operates without military force but exerts significant influence over African politics.