Burkina Faso has announced the removal of visa fees for all African nationals in a move aimed at strengthening Pan-African solidarity and promoting the free movement of people and goods across the continent.
According by BBC, Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, disclosed the policy shift on Thursday after a cabinet meeting presided over 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 clarified, however, that travellers would still need to submit an online application for approval before entry.
Citizens of West African countries already travel to Burkina Faso without visas, but the decision comes amid uncertainty over the country’s status in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, withdrew from the regional bloc earlier this year, raising questions about the future of regional travel arrangements.
According to a statement from the junta’s information service, the new policy “for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture, and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad.”
The Sahelian nation now joins Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya in adopting visa-free travel policies that align with the African Union’s agenda for greater integration across the continent.
Since seizing power in a 2022 coup, Traoré has styled himself as a Pan-Africanist leader critical of colonial influence and Western dominance. His popularity has grown across the continent, particularly on social media, where he is often praised for championing African unity.
Despite these policy shifts, Burkina Faso continues to grapple with a prolonged Islamist insurgency. Nearly 40 percent of its territory remains outside state control, and attacks on civilians and security forces remain frequent despite the junta’s closer ties with Russia and repeated promises to restore stability.
