Burkina Faso has announced the removal of visa fees for all African travelers in a bid to ease the movement of people and goods into the country.
The policy shift was revealed by the Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, on Thursday following a cabinet meeting chaired by the country’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
“From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to enter Burkina Faso will not be required to pay visa fees,” Sana stated.
He added that the free visa system aims to promote tourism, showcase Burkinabe culture, and enhance the country’s international visibility.
However, travelers from other African nations will still need to submit an online visa application, which will be reviewed and approved before entry, the minister clarified.
Burkina Faso joins several other African countries—such as Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya—that have eased travel requirements to encourage intra-continental mobility.
Currently, citizens of West African countries can travel to Burkina Faso visa-free. However, this arrangement may change in the future, as Burkina Faso recently withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), along with fellow military-led governments in Mali and Niger.
Captain Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, positions himself as a strong advocate of Pan-Africanism and frequently criticizes Western influence and colonial legacies.
