The government of The government of Burkina Faso has announced the removal of visa fees for all African nationals, as a step to strengthen Pan-African solidarity and encourage the free movement of people and goods.
BBC reports that the Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, disclosed the policy shift last week after a cabinet meeting presided over by the country’s military 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.
He, however, clarified that travellers would still be required to submit an online application for approval before entry.
Citizens of West African countries already travel to Burkina Faso without visas, but the move comes amid uncertainty over the country’s status in the Economic Community of West African States.
Along with Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso withdrew from the bloc earlier this year, raising concerns about future travel arrangements within the region.
The Sahelian nation now joins Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya in adopting policies that make travel easier for Africans, in line with the African Union’s push for greater integration across the continent.
