Malawian Presidential Advisor Hit With US Visa Ban

Special advisor to President Peter Mutharika of Malawi, Uladi Basikolo Mussa, has been banned from entering the U.S.

The U.S. government has announced that Mussa will be unable to travel to the country as a result of his involvement in significant corruption relating to his time as Minister of Home Affairs.

The decision was taken in accordance with Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act of 2019.

A statement released by the U.S. government on the matter reads as follows:

“The Secretary of State is publicly designating Mr. Uladi Basikolo Mussa, the current Malawian Special Advisor on Parliamentary Affairs and former Malawian Minister of Home Affairs, due to his involvement in significant corruption. Mr. Mussa engaged in and benefited from public corruption in relation to his official duties while Minister of Home Affairs. This designation is made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act of 2019. Section 7031(c) provides that, in cases where the Secretary of State has credible information that foreign officials have been involved in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights, those individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States.

The law also requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate such officials and their family members. In addition to the designation of Mr. Mussa, the Secretary is also publicly designating Mr. Mussa’s spouse, Cecillia Mussa.”

Mussa has hit back at the move stating he is innocent until proven guilty.