In an effort to improve regional integration and fortify Pan-African relations, the military government of Urkina Faso has eliminated visa requirements for all African tourists.
Following a cabinet meeting presided over by junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Security Minister Mahamadou Sana made the announcement Thursday, according to BBC News.
“Any citizen of an African nation who wishes to travel to Burkina Faso will no longer have to pay any amount to cover visa fees,” Sana stated, adding that travelers will still need to submit an online application that is subject to approval.
The policy puts Burkina Faso in line with nations like Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya that have recently loosened travel restrictions for Africans in support of the free movement agenda of the African Union.
Under ECOWAS procedures, citizens of West African states had previously been granted entry without a visa. The new policy, however, follows months after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger left the regional bloc, claiming it was biased in favor of the West.
According to the junta, the policy is anticipated to advance travel, Burkinabe culture, and international recognition and demonstrates Burkina Faso’s dedication to Pan-Africanist principles.The announcement is made as the nation struggles with an Islamist insurgency that is getting worse and has taken control of a sizable portion of its territory.
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