The military government of Burkina Faso has declared that all African travellers will no longer need to pay a visa fee, a move it claims is intended to strengthen regional integration and Pan-African solidarity.
According to BBC News, Security Minister Mahamadou Sana announced the decision on Thursday following a cabinet meeting chaired by junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Sana stated, “From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees.” However, subject to approval, travellers must still submit an online application.
Burkina joins Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya to introduce visa-free entry to Africans
Burkina Faso now joins nations like Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya, which have recently loosened their travel restrictions for Africans in support of the African Union’s initiative to allow free movement throughout the continent.
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The move coincides with Ouagadougou’s recent departure from the regional bloc, along with Mali and Niger, even though West African nationals have long been granted visa-free entry to Burkina Faso under ECOWAS protocols.
While seeking closer ties with Russia, the military-led regimes in the three Sahelian states accuse ECOWAS of caving in to Western interests.
Since taking over in a coup in September 2022, Traoré has portrayed himself as a Pan-African revolutionary and frequently attacked Western influence and colonialism.
Burkina Faso’s President’s influence in Africa
He has become a cult figure among many Africans due to his vehement rhetoric and social media presence. Critics, however, accused him of authoritarianism, suppressing dissent, and failing to control an Islamist insurgency that has grown worse and left about 40 per cent of Burkina Faso uncontrolled by the government.
According to a statement from the junta’s information office, the new policy will “promote tourism, Burkinabe culture, and improve the country’s visibility abroad” and “reflects Burkina Faso’s attachment to Pan-Africanist ideals.”
The nation is still plagued by insecurity despite the symbolic gesture, with jihadist attacks taking place in multiple provinces on a nearly daily basis.