Captain Ibrahim Traore, the leader of Burkina Faso, has become a prominent figure in Africa due to his sweeping reforms and policies to strengthen the West African nation. Often compared to the revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara, Traore is now directing his focus beyond Burkina Faso, advocating for a more integrated and borderless Africa.
In his latest continental push, Traore has called on African nations to unite and eliminate visa restrictions for African citizens, arguing that free movement would significantly boost trade, investment, and economic development across the continent. He cites the European Union as an example, where seamless movement across borders has facilitated economic growth, tourism, and regional cooperation. According to Traore, Africa must follow suit to harness its full economic potential.
As part of this vision, Traore announced that Burkina Faso will become a visa-free country for all African citizens in the coming months. He also urged other African leaders to take similar steps to ensure greater travel freedom within the continent.
Which African Countries Would Traore’s Burkina Faso Join in Being Visa-Free?
While many African nations still impose visa fees on fellow Africans, some have taken significant strides toward facilitating free movement within the continent.
Currently, countries such as Rwanda, The Gambia, Ghana, Benin, and Seychelles have adopted visa-free policies for African nationals, improving accessibility and fostering stronger regional ties. Ghana, for example, has extended its open-border policy to people of African descent worldwide, including African Americans and those from European nations with African heritage.
Additionally, Kenya eased travel restrictions in 2023, replacing traditional visa requirements with an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, making entry easier for African visitors. By 2024, 26 African countries had implemented an eVisa system, a significant improvement compared to 2016. These measures indicate progress, but Traore insists that more must be done to achieve true visa-free travel across Africa.
Ibrahim Traore Also Proposes Reduced Cost of Intra-Continental Flights
In addition to promoting free movement, Captain Ibrahim Traore is also pushing for lower travel costs within Africa. According to sources, he envisions Burkina Faso as a hub for affordable air travel, addressing the high costs that currently make intra-African travel more expensive than journeys to other continents.
He has also announced plans for the creation of “Afro Airline,” an initiative aimed at reducing airfare costs and improving connectivity within Africa. The initiative aligns with efforts to address one of the biggest challenges African travellers face: the scarcity of affordable and accessible flights within the continent.
Currently, only a few airlines, such as Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and RwandAir, provide extensive intra-African routes. This limited competition, combined with high taxes, landing fees, and a less liberalized aviation market compared to Europe’s open-skies policy, contributes to exorbitant ticket prices. Unlike in Europe, where frequent and budget-friendly flights are common, African air travel remains expensive and infrequent.
Traore’s push for a more accessible aviation industry reflects his broader vision for a connected Africa where people, goods, and services can move freely, ultimately fostering economic integration and prosperity.
With Burkina Faso set to remove visa restrictions and initiatives such as Afro Airline in progress, Traore’s leadership could mark a significant shift in Africa’s approach to mobility and economic unity. Whether other African nations will follow suit remains to be seen, but his bold stance has undoubtedly sparked a crucial conversation about the future of travel and trade on the continent.
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