Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Timothy Kabba has requested a meeting with the US Ambassador, Bryan Hunt following news of a proposed travel ban by the US government on Sierra Leone nationals.

Information reaching our desk indicates that the meeting will focus on the rationale for the visa restriction on Sierra Leone nationals by the US government.

Last week, the New York Times reported that Sierra Leone is placed among 42 other countries with proposed travel restrictions from the US Department of Homeland Security.

In a list shared last week by the New York Times, Sierra Leone is placed in the orange tier section indicating that visas will be restricted for Sierra Leone nationals. The section also includes Pakistan, South Sudan, Russia and Eritrea.

The ban is thought to be part of the Trump administration’s strategy to restrict immigration from countries deemed as rogue states. In addition, some residents of the West African nation are suggesting that the ban may be linked to the country’s recent entanglements in narcotics scandals.

However, the official reason for the proposed ban will surface early this week after the meeting between the Foreign Minister and the US Ambassador.