Sahel state eases entry rules in ‘pan-Africanist’ move
Burkina Faso has scrapped visa fees for all African travelers. Burkinabe Security Minister Mahamadou Sana announced the decision on Thursday, saying it was geared at boosting cross-border movement and advancing continental “integration.”
The minister said that while Africans will no longer be charged for visa processing, travelers must still complete an online application for approval.
The measure is consistent with Burkina Faso’s “pan-Africanist” stance, the Burkinabe Information Services said in a statement following a cabinet meeting chaired by the country’s interim leader Ibrahim Traoré.
“This waiver of visa fees for nationals of African countries will also help promote tourism, Burkinabè culture, and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad,” it added.
Burkina Faso’s move comes amid a broader push across the continent to promote free movement. Ghana, Rwanda, Benin, Seychelles, and most recently Kenya have all introduced visa-free or visa-on-arrival policies for Africans, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) project.
Since formally withdrawing from ECOWAS earlier this year alongside Mali and Niger, Ouagadougou has positioned itself as a champion of pan-Africanism. The three military-led governments, which went on to found the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have accused the West African bloc of threatening the sovereignty of their countries by acting as a tool of foreign powers, particularly France.
Bamako, Niamey and Ouagadougou have expelled French troops, severed defense accords with Paris, introduced new passports without ECOWAS symbols, and pulled out of the International Organization La Francophonie.
Late last month, Niger also restricted the issuance of entry visas at its embassies in European countries including Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, describing the move as “reciprocity.” Under the new policy, citizens of those countries must now process their visa applications at Nigerien embassies in Geneva, Ankara, or Moscow, while diplomatic or service passport holders may apply through Niger’s embassy in Brussels.
