- El Salvador officially denied CNN journalist Larry Madowo's entry permit application on October 14, 2026
- The denial cited a government directive barring travellers from Kenya and seven other African nations from entering El Salvador
- El Salvador's Health Ministry issued the directive following Kenya's confirmation of Ebola cases
Nancy Odindo is a Current Affairs Editor at TUKO.co.ke, covering political and world news. Odindo has over six years of journalism experience and joined TUKO.co.ke in 2023.
El Salvador has formally denied a special entry permit to CNN journalist Larry Madowo, citing a government health directive that bars travellers from Kenya and several other African countries from entering the country.
Source: Facebook
An official denial document issued confirmed that Madowo's application was rejected under a directive signed by Dr. Francisco José Alabi Montoya, El Salvador's Honorary Minister of Health.
"El Salvador denied my visa because Kenya reported eight Ebola cases even though authorities in Nairobi maintain that there’s no widespread outbreak. They must think that everyone in Kenya and the region has Ebola," Madowo said.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
El Salvador's entry ban
The directive, referenced as Official Letter No. 2026-6000-055, states that "any person who comes from or has transited through the nations of Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda will be declared inadmissible and will be denied entry to the country."
"El Salvador has banned citizens of DRC & random neighboring East & Central African countries—including many without any cases," Madowo added.
El Salvador cited Articles 6, 18, and 100 of the country's Constitution, as well as Articles 13(3) and 40(5) of the Special Law on Migration and Foreigners, as the legal basis for the denial.
Kenya's Ebola outbreak
El Salvador's decision follows Kenya's confirmation of Ebola cases, with the country having recorded nine infections. The outbreak placed Kenya on the list of nations whose nationals and transit passengers face automatic inadmissibility under the Salvadoran health measure.
Source: Facebook
Madowo, a Kenyan national and veteran international correspondent for CNN, shared the document publicly on Facebook. The journalist is widely recognised for his reporting across Africa, the United States, and internationally.
The ban covers eight African nations in total, reflecting El Salvador's response to the spread of the Ebola virus in the region.
Kenya's inclusion has drawn attention given the country's relatively high profile in global travel and business circles and the fact that the ban extends to anyone who has merely transited through any of the listed nations rather than only those who are citizens.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Authors:
Tags:
Hot: