France surprised Chad made Trump travel restrictions list

PARIS – France’s foreign ministry is expressing surprise that Chad is among the seven countries selected for new travel restrictions by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes Romatet-Espagne said at a briefing Wednesday that Chad has paid with lives as a “decisive partner in the fight against terrorism.”

She says France hopes “the United States and Chad … will quickly find a solution to remove this interdiction.”

The new restrictions covering citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen — and some Venezuelan government officials and their families — are to take effect Oct. 18.

French President Emmanuel Macron met in July with Chadian leader Idriss Deby.

Chad is a former French colony in Africa that won independence in 1960.