In Kinshasa and Brazzaville – the capitals of the two Congos facing each other across the river of the same name – many wondered how Donald Trump determined his list of 12 countries, including seven in Africa, subject to his new "travel ban," a policy blocking entry to the United States.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was spared from the ban, while its neighbor, the Republic of the Congo, was included. Starting June 9, the US will no longer issue any visas to nationals from this country, or from other banned nations: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Iran, Yemen, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Togo appeared on a separate "partial suspension" list.

In a statement released Wednesday, June 4, the White House justified its decision on regulatory grounds. The administration based its policy on the proportion of "visa overstays" – that is, holders of B1/B2 visas (for business or tourism) or F, M, J visas (for study or academic exchanges) who arrived by air or sea and remained in the US beyond the legal period of stay. The Republic of the Congo recorded rates of 29.63% and 35.14% respectively for the first and second groups of visas, figures Washington described as "unacceptable."

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