BREAKING: Burkina Faso Scraps Visa Fees For All Africans, See What It Means

BREAKING: Burkina Faso Scraps Visa Fees For All Africans, See What It Means

The government of Burkina Faso has scrapped visa fees for all African nationals in a bid to deepen Pan-African solidarity and promote the free movement of people and goods.

According to the BBC, Minister of Security Mahamadou Sana announced the policy shift on Thursday following a cabinet meeting chaired 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.

Sana clarified that while visa fees have been removed, travellers will still be required to complete an online application and obtain approval before entering the country.

Citizens of West African nations already enjoy visa-free entry to Burkina Faso, but the latest move comes at a time of uncertainty over the country’s membership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Alongside Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso pulled out of the regional bloc earlier this year, sparking concerns about future travel arrangements in the region.

With this move, Burkina Faso joins Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya in adopting more open travel policies for Africans, echoing the African Union’s push for greater continental integration.

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 took power in a 2022 coup, has continued to present himself as a Pan-Africanist leader, outspoken against colonial legacies and Western dominance.