Burkina Faso has scrapped visa fees for all African nationals in a move to promote Pan-African solidarity and regional integration.
The government of Burkina Faso has abolished visa fees for African nationals in a policy aimed at strengthening Pan-African solidarity and boosting the free movement of people and goods.
BBC reports that the Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, announced the decision 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 added that travellers would still be required to submit an online application before entry.
Citizens of West African nations already enjoy visa-free access to Burkina Faso, but the latest measure comes amid uncertainty over the country’s withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States alongside Mali and Niger earlier this year.
The new policy aligns Burkina Faso with Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya, which have adopted similar measures in line with the African Union’s integration agenda.
A statement from the junta said the policy would “help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture, and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad.”
Traoré, who seized power in 2022, has positioned himself as a Pan-Africanist leader despite ongoing insurgency challenges.