Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Horn News Hub)
Burkina Faso scraps visa fees for Africans in push for continental unity
Burkina Faso has abolished visa fees for African nationals travelling to the country, a landmark decision by President Ibrahim Traoré aimed at boosting regional integration and accelerating the continent’s long-delayed project of free movement.
The policy, which came into force in September 2025, applies to all African citizens. Nationals from outside the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) will still be required to apply for a visa, but the document will now be issued free of charge.
Authorities in Ouagadougou described the decision as a gesture of solidarity and sovereignty, aligning Burkina Faso with a growing list of African states easing restrictions on travel. Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Rwanda have in recent years introduced visa waivers or scrapped entry fees for African travellers, both to encourage intra-African tourism and to stimulate investment.
Supporters hailed the announcement as both symbolic and practical. “This is the kind of leadership Africa needs – free from western dictates, committed to building African unity,” said one traveller in Ouagadougou. Others praised President Traoré for advancing policies they believe will help Africans connect across borders without prohibitive costs.
The African Union has long championed visa-free travel as part of its Agenda 2063 blueprint, which envisions an integrated, politically united continent based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism (Aspiration 2) and an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, and shared values (Aspiration 5). To achieve these goals, both physical and invisible barriers that have historically prevented the integration of Africa’s people need to be removed.
A flagship project of Agenda 2063, The African Passport and Free Movement of People, seeks to remove restrictions on Africans’ ability to travel, work, and live anywhere on the continent. Despite political commitments, many African countries maintain laws that restrict movement; the initiative encourages member states to issue visas freely to promote mobility and integration.
The free movement of persons in Africa is expected to deliver multiple benefits, including:
Boosting intra-Africa trade, commerce, and tourism
Facilitating labour mobility, and intra-Africa knowledge and skills transfer
Promoting pan-African identity, social integration, and tourism
Improving trans-border infrastructure and shared development
Fostering comprehensive border management
Promoting rule of law, human rights, and public health
The Department of Political Affairs leads the AU’s integration efforts, working with member states to identify opportunities to remove barriers to movement and create the legal, social, and economic conditions for Africans to live and work freely across the continent.
AU officials welcomed Burkina Faso’s move. Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, described it as “a tangible step towards realising the vision of a borderless Africa, showing that political will at the national level is critical for the success of the African Passport and free movement initiative.”
Reactions from other African capitals were equally positive. Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the decision as “a practical demonstration of pan-African solidarity” and suggested it could encourage other states to follow suit ahead of the AU’s 2030 target of visa-free travel. Kenya and Uganda echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the economic and cultural benefits of intra-African mobility.
The move also highlights the growing contrast with Europe and North America, where African travellers face some of the most restrictive visa regimes in the world — marked by high costs, long waiting times, and frequent rejections. For many Africans, President Traoré’s announcement symbolizes a shift towards self-reliance and continental solidarity, a tangible step towards realising the long-held vision of a borderless Africa.
For pan-Africanists, the decision is more than an administrative measure: it is a statement of intent. It positions Burkina Faso as a potential model for other African states and reinforces the AU’s aspiration to foster economic growth, social cohesion, and shared prosperity through free movement of people.
