Burkina Faso govt scraps visa fees for Africans

Burkina Faso govt scraps visa fees for Africans

Burkina Faso’s government has announced the elimination of visa fees for all African nationals in an effort to foster Pan-African solidarity and promote free movement of people and commerce.

According to the BBC, the Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, announced the policy move on Thursday during a cabinet meeting presided over by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the country’s military chief.

“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 told the press.

He did, however, clarify that passengers would still need to submit an online application for clearance before entering.

Citizens of West African countries can already travel to Burkina Faso without a visa, but the move comes amid uncertainty about the country’s membership in the Economic Community of West African States.

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Burkina Faso, like Mali and Niger, withdrew from the group earlier this year, raising fears about future regional travel arrangements.

The Sahelian nation now joins Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya in implementing policies that facilitate African travel, in line with the African Union’s push for greater continental integration.

According to the BBC, the junta’s communication department stated that the new visa-free policy “for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture, as well as improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad.”

Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, describes himself as a Pan-Africanist leader who opposes colonial influence and Western dominance.

His popularity has grown across the continent, notably through social media.

Burkina Faso, like its neighbors Mali and Niger, has been fighting Islamist insurgents for more than a decade, with nearly 40% of its territory believed to be beyond state control.

Despite increased security relations with Russia and repeated vows from the junta to restore peace, attacks on civilians and military personnel continue.

Burkina Faso govt scraps visa fees for Africans