In a significant step to strengthen Pan-African solidarity and encourage the free movement of people and goods, the government of Burkina Faso has announced the removal of visa fees for all African nationals.
BBC reports that the Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, disclosed the policy shift on Thursday after a cabinet meeting presided over by the country’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
“From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees,” Sana said.
Also read: CAJ demands release of three journalists in Burkina Faso
He, however, clarified that travelers would still be required to submit an online application for approval before entry.
Citizens of West African countries already travel to Burkina Faso without visas, but the move comes amid uncertainty over the country’s status in the Economic Community of West African States.
Along with Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso withdrew from the bloc earlier this year, raising concerns about future travel arrangements within the region.
The Sahelian nation now joins Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya in adopting policies that make travel easier for Africans, in line with the African Union’s push for greater integration across the continent.
According to the BBC, a statement from the junta’s information service said the new visa-free policy “for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad.”
Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, has styled himself as a Pan-Africanist leader critical of colonial influence and Western dominance.
His popularity has been amplified across the continent, particularly on social media.
Burkina Faso, like its neighbours Mali and Niger, has been battling Islamist insurgents for over a decade, with nearly 40 per cent of its territory estimated to be outside state control.
Despite closer security ties with Russia and repeated promises by the junta to restore stability, attacks on civilians and the military remain frequent.
PUNCH
