Burkina Faso has joined the list of African nations easing travel restrictions by scrapping visa fees for all African nationals, a move authorities say is aimed at strengthening Pan-African solidarity and encouraging the free movement of people and goods.
BBC reports that the country’s Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, announced the policy shift on Thursday after a cabinet meeting chaired by 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, stressed that travellers would still need to submit an online application for approval before entering the country.
The new directive adds to existing arrangements allowing West African citizens visa-free entry into Burkina Faso. It also comes at a time when the country’s position in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) remains uncertain following its withdrawal alongside Mali and Niger earlier this year.
According to the BBC, the junta’s information service said the decision “for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture, and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad.”
With the announcement, Burkina Faso now joins Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya in implementing policies that ease African travel in line with the African Union’s push for deeper continental integration.
Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, has consistently 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.
Like Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso has for over a decade been battling Islamist insurgents, with nearly 40 per cent of its territory still estimated to be outside government control. Despite closer ties with Russia and assurances from the junta to restore stability, attacks on civilians and security forces remain frequent.
