Burkina Faso Introduces Visa-Free Entry for All African Citizens

Burkina Faso has announced a visa-free entry policy for all African travellers, a move aimed at strengthening continental integration and facilitating the free movement of people and goods.

“From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees,” Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said after a cabinet meeting chaired by military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré on Thursday.

Although the visa fee has been scrapped, African visitors will still be required to submit an online visa application for approval, the minister clarified.

This decision aligns Burkina Faso with countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya, which have in recent years eased travel restrictions to promote African unity.

The junta’s information service explained that the policy forms part of efforts to strengthen Pan-African ideals, boost tourism, and showcase Burkinabe culture.

“This free visa system for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture, and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad,” the statement noted.

Captain Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, has consistently projected himself as a Pan-Africanist leader. While popular among African youth and widely supported on social media, he has faced criticism for authoritarian governance and challenges in containing the Islamist insurgency destabilizing the country.

The announcement comes as Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, withdraws from ECOWAS and pursues closer cooperation with Russia, marking a significant geopolitical shift in the region.

It remains to be seen how the visa-free policy will impact regional relations, but it reflects broader African Union (AU) efforts to ease travel across the continent.