Ouagadougou – Burkina Faso has announced that citizens from all African countries will no longer be required to pay visa fees when entering the country. The decision was made public on Thursday by Security Minister Mahamadou Sana after a cabinet meeting chaired by military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Sana explained that while visa fees have been abolished, travellers must still submit an online application which will be reviewed before entry is granted.
The development places Burkina Faso among a growing list of African states such as Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya that have eased travel requirements for continental visitors. West African citizens already enjoy visa-free access, although the country’s recent withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), alongside Mali and Niger, has raised questions about how long that arrangement will last.
Captain Traoré, who seized power in 2022, has positioned himself as a strong advocate of Pan-Africanism while maintaining a critical stance towards Western influence. His government said the policy reflects a commitment to regional integration, tourism growth and the promotion of Burkinabe culture abroad.
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