OUAGADOUGOU – Burkina Faso has announced the removal of visa fees for all African nationals in a move aimed at deepening Pan-African solidarity, boosting tourism, and promoting free movement across the continent.

The Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, confirmed the policy on Thursday after a cabinet meeting chaired 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. However, travellers will still be required to complete an online application before entry.

While citizens of West African states already enjoyed visa-free entry, the new measure comes amid uncertainty over Burkina Faso’s ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Alongside Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso withdrew from the bloc earlier this year, casting doubts on regional travel arrangements.

The West African nation now joins Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya in adopting more open travel policies, aligning with the African Union’s push for continental integration.

According to the junta’s information service, the decision will “promote tourism, showcase Burkinabe culture, and enhance the country’s visibility abroad.”

Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, has increasingly positioned himself as a Pan-Africanist voice critical of colonial influence and Western dominance. His popularity has grown across Africa, especially on social media, despite persistent insecurity at home.

Burkina Faso, like its neighbours Mali and Niger, continues to battle Islamist insurgents, with nearly 40 percent of its territory outside government control. Despite forging closer ties with Russia and pledging to restore stability, attacks remain frequent.