Burkina Faso scraps visa fees for African travellers

Burkina Faso’s military government has abolished visa fees for all African nationals in a move officials say is aimed at deepening Pan-African ties and fostering regional integration.

Security Minister Mahamadou Sana announced the decision on Thursday following a cabinet meeting chaired by junta 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, adding that travellers will still be required to submit an online application subject to approval.

The decision aligns Burkina Faso with countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya, which have eased travel restrictions in support of the African Union’s free movement agenda.

West African citizens already enjoyed visa-free access to Burkina Faso under ECOWAS protocols.

However, the new policy comes just months after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger pulled out of the regional bloc, accusing it of advancing Western interests at the expense of member states.