BURKINA FASO SCRAPS VISA FEES FOR ALL AFRICAN NATIONALS TO BOOST PAN-AFRICAN SOLIDARITY
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The government of Burkina Faso has announced the abolition of visa fees for all African nationals in a move aimed at strengthening Pan-African unity and promoting the free movement of people and goods.
Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, disclosed the new policy on Thursday after 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. He, however, noted that travellers would still need to complete an online application for approval before entry.
Citizens of West African states already enjoy visa-free travel to Burkina Faso, but the development comes against the backdrop of the country’s withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this year alongside Mali and Niger.
The Sahelian nation now joins Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya in implementing policies that ease travel for Africans, aligning with the African Union’s broader push for continental integration.
According to a government statement, the new measure will not only strengthen Pan-African ties but also boost tourism, promote Burkinabe culture, and improve the country’s global visibility.
Traoré, who came to power in a 2022 coup, has positioned himself as a Pan-Africanist leader opposed to colonial influence and Western dominance, a stance that has bolstered his popularity across the continent.
Despite the visa reforms and closer security cooperation with Russia, Burkina Faso continues to grapple with a decade-long Islamist insurgency, with nearly 40 per cent of its territory outside government control.
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