Burkina Faso has announced a new visa-free entry policy for citizens of all African countries, a move aimed at promoting intra-African mobility, regional trade, and Pan-African cooperation.
The change, approved during a cabinet meeting led by military ruler Captain Ibrahim Traoré on Thursday, eliminates visa fees for African nationals, though visitors will still be required to complete an online visa application for approval, according to Security Minister Mahamadou Sana.
“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 in a post-meeting statement.
The measure positions the landlocked West African nation alongside countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, and Ghana, which in recent years have implemented similar policies to facilitate regional travel and commerce. It also aligns with the African Union’s broader push to ease cross-border movement as part of its free trade and integration agenda.
Officials say the visa change is part of a wider strategy to promote tourism, enhance the country’s visibility abroad, and reinforce Pan-African ideals.
“The free visa system for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture,” the government said in a statement, emphasizing a desire to showcase the country’s cultural heritage.
The policy comes at a time of significant political realignment in Burkina Faso. Since taking power in a 2022 coup, Traoré has positioned himself as a vocal critic of Western influence—particularly that of former colonial power France—and an advocate for African self-reliance. His administration has severed longstanding ties with France and pivoted toward closer security and economic cooperation with Russia.
Earlier this year, Burkina Faso, along with military-led neighbors Mali and Niger, formally withdrew from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and established the Alliance of Sahel States, a new partnership aimed at mutual defense and regional coordination outside of traditional Western-backed frameworks.
Despite his popularity among some segments of African youth, Traoré has faced scrutiny over a deteriorating security situation. An Islamist insurgency continues to destabilize large parts of Burkina Faso, and rights groups have raised concerns about restrictions on political opposition, civil society, and the media under his rule.
While it remains uncertain whether the visa-free policy will ease tensions with neighboring states or attract significant tourism inflows, the move signals a continued shift away from multilateral institutions aligned with the West and a deeper embrace of Pan-Africanist rhetoric and policy.
Source:TheDotNews