Burkina Faso has abolished visa fees for all African nationals in a move the government says will promote Pan-African solidarity and ease the free movement of people and goods.
The announcement was made Thursday by Minister of Security Mahamadou Sana 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 added that travelers would still need to complete an online application for approval before entry.
Citizens of West African countries already enjoy visa-free access to Burkina Faso, but the new policy extends the benefit to all Africans. It comes at a time of uncertainty over the country’s relationship with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which it left earlier this year alongside Mali and Niger.
The policy aligns Burkina Faso with Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya, which have adopted similar measures in line with the African Union’s goal of greater continental integration.
A statement from the junta’s information service said the decision would “help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture, and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad.”
Traoré, who came to power in a 2022 coup, has presented himself as a Pan-Africanist leader critical of colonial influence and Western dominance. His stance has boosted his popularity across Africa, particularly on social media.
Burkina Faso continues to battle Islamist insurgencies that have plagued the Sahel region for more than a decade. Nearly 40 percent of its territory remains outside state control, despite closer security ties with Russia and repeated pledges to restore stability.
Attacks on civilians and the military remain frequent, highlighting the challenges facing the junta even as it seeks to strengthen regional and continental ties.
