Burkina Faso has abolished visa fees for all African nationals, marking a bold step toward Pan-African solidarity and regional integration.
The announcement was made on Thursday by Security Minister Mahamadou Sana after a cabinet meeting chaired by the country’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Sana clarified that while the visa fees have been scrapped, travellers are still required to complete an online application before entering Burkina Faso.
Citizens of West African nations already enjoy visa-free access, but this policy extends the benefit to all Africans for the first time.
The development comes at a critical moment, as Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States earlier this year.
This raised questions about future mobility within the bloc, making the new visa-free move a symbolic reaffirmation of intra-African cooperation.
Burkina Faso now joins Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya in easing travel restrictions for Africans, in line with the African Union’s push for greater continental integration.
The junta’s information service said the measure would promote tourism, highlight Burkinabe culture, and strengthen the country’s visibility abroad.
Captain Traoré, who took power in a 2022 coup, has consistently positioned himself as a Pan-Africanist leader opposed to Western dominance. His popularity has surged across Africa, amplified by social media, where his rhetoric against colonial influence resonates strongly.
Despite this progressive travel policy, Burkina Faso continues to face severe security challenges, with Islamist insurgents controlling nearly 40 percent of the country’s territory.
While the junta has turned to Russia for security cooperation, attacks on civilians and soldiers remain frequent, underscoring the fragility of the state.
