Burkina Faso has announced the removal of visa fees for all African travellers to encourage easier movement of people and goods into the country.

“From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to visit Burkina Faso will not be required to pay visa fees,” said Mahamadou Sana, the country’s security minister, after a cabinet meeting chaired by military leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré on Thursday.

The minister clarified that African visitors will still need to submit an online visa application, which will be reviewed before approval.

The move places Burkina Faso alongside countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya, which have also simplified travel requirements for African visitors.

Currently, citizens of West African nations can travel to Burkina Faso visa-free. However, this may change in the future as the country has withdrawn from the regional bloc ECOWAS, along with Mali and Niger, both under military rule.

Capt Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, presents himself as a Pan-Africanist and frequently criticizes the West and colonial legacies. He enjoys considerable popularity across the continent, bolstered by his charismatic leadership and a strong social media presence, though many posts have been criticized as misleading attempts to reinforce his revolutionary image.

Despite his popularity, Capt Traoré faces criticism for his authoritarian governance, his approach to dissent, and his handling of the ongoing Islamist insurgency.