In a significant move towards Pan-Africanism, Burkina Faso has scrapped visa fees for all Africans.
The move, according to the junta’s information service is to also promote regional integration across the African continent, reinforcing the shift among African nations to unite.
Burkina Faso joins a list of African countries which are improving access to their countries by easing visa payments.
Countries like Seychelles, Gambia, Benin, Kenya and Rwanda already have visa-free entry policies.
Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana who spoke to local media after a cabinet meeting said, “from now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees.”
The move comes amid calls by the African Union for a visa-free continent through its Free Movement Protocol and Agenda 2063’s vision of a borderless Africa.
For the AU, a borderless Africa will not only accelerate economic growth but also deepen regional integration, trade, and boost development across Africa.
The Burkina Faso junta hopes that this “free visa system for African nationals will also help promote tourism and Burkinabe culture and improve Burkina Faso’s visibility abroad.”
