Burkina Faso has announced the removal of visa fees for all African citizens, saying the step is meant to ease travel and trade across the continent.
“From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees,” said Security Minister Mahamadou Sana after a cabinet meeting led by Capt Ibrahim Traoré.
Travellers will still need to apply online for a visa, which will be reviewed before entry is granted. Officials explained that this system will balance open borders with security checks.
The decision mirrors actions by Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya, which have all eased entry for African visitors. Capt Traoré, who took power in a 2022 coup, often speaks of his Pan-African ideals and opposition to colonialism.
The military leader’s image has drawn wide admiration on social media, though critics accuse him of ruling with a heavy hand. His government continues to struggle with insurgent violence that has left 40% of the country in militant control.
“This free visa system for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture, and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad,” the junta’s information service declared.
Regional Politics and Security Challenges
Citizens of West African states can already enter Burkina Faso without a visa under ECOWAS rules. But Burkina Faso’s withdrawal from the bloc alongside Mali and Niger raises questions about the future of such arrangements.
Despite partnerships with Russia and promises of improved security, the country still suffers frequent attacks from jihadist groups. So, is this visa move more of a symbolic embrace of continental unity than a solution to its domestic crises?
Efforts to ease African travel have been gathering momentum. Ghana introduced a no-visa policy for African passport holders earlier this year, while Kenya and Rwanda already allow Africans to enter without traditional visas.
Yet, Africans still face more barriers moving across Africa than travellers from Europe or the West — a reality the African Union has been trying to change.
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