Africans can now enter Burkina Faso without paying visa fees
Burkina Faso has announced it is removing visa fees for all travellers from African countries, in a move aimed at strengthening regional integration and Pan-African unity.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by military leader Capt. 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," Security Minister Mahamadou Sana explained after the meeting.
He added that African visitors would still be required to submit an online visa application, which will be reviewed for approval.
According to a statement released by the government’s information service, "This free visa system for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture, and improve Burkina Faso's visibility abroad." The announcement stressed that the policy reflects Burkina Faso’s “attachment to Pan-Africanist ideals and promotes regional integration”.
The West African country joins Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya, which have also recently eased travel requirements for African visitors. Earlier this year, Ghana said all African passport holders could visit without a visa, while Kenya introduced a visa-free policy in 2023 requiring only online authorisation. Rwanda has also long waived visa requirements for African travellers.
Citizens of West African countries have already been able to travel to Burkina Faso without visas under the ECOWAS framework. But Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, withdrew from ECOWAS earlier this year, raising uncertainty over whether such arrangements will remain in the long term.
Capt. Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, has promoted himself as a Pan-African leader opposed to Western influence and colonial legacies. His popularity has surged across the continent, particularly on social media.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
