Big news dey come from Burkina Faso! De government say dem dey scrap visa fees for all African travellers. E be like say dem wan make am easy for people and goods to move enter de country.
According to Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, any African citizen wey wan go Burkina Faso no go pay visa fee again. He talk say dis one be after cabinet meeting wey military leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré chair. But, African visitors still go need submit online visa application for dem to review and approve.
Burkina Faso dey join Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya wey don already make travel easy for African visitors. E be like say dem dey follow de African Union push for greater integration across de continent.
Before, West African citizens fit travel to Burkina Faso without visa. But dat one fit change because de country don pull out of Ecowas, along with Mali and Niger. All of dem dey under military rule.
Capt Traoré, wey seize power for 2022 coup, dey see himself as Pan-Africanism champion. He dey criticize de West and colonialism. Some people like am because of im leadership, especially on social media.
But some people no too like am because of im style of governance and how he dey handle dissent and de ongoing Islamist insurgency. Burkina Faso, like oda countries for de Sahel region, dey fight armed jihadist groups. Dem estimate say about 40% of de country dey under dem control. Government dey promise to improve security, but e still be challenge.
Why dis one dey important?
- E go make travel easy and cheap for Africans.
- E go promote tourism and business for Burkina Faso.
- E go show Pan-African solidarity.
What next?
Make we dey watch how dis new policy go affect travel and business for Burkina Faso and de rest of Africa.