Burkina Faso has introduced a new biometric passport that omits the logo of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), marking a significant step in the country’s withdrawal from the regional organization. This change reflects Burkina Faso’s ongoing disengagement from ECOWAS, which includes recent moves by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to sever ties following the bloc’s imposition of sanctions in response to military coups.
Mahamadou Sana, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Security, confirmed the update during a press briefing on Tuesday. He stated, “On this passport, there’s no ECOWAS logo, and no mention of ECOWAS either. Since January, Burkina Faso has decided to withdraw from this body, and this is just a realization of the action already taken by Burkina Faso.”
The removal of the ECOWAS logo from Burkina Faso’s passports underscores the growing rift between the country and the regional organization. Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, has criticized ECOWAS for allegedly prioritizing selfish interests over the ideals of pan-Africanism.
ECOWAS has cautioned that the withdrawal of these countries could negatively impact the bloc’s common market and affect the freedom of movement for the 400 million people in the region. Despite these tensions, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, the current ECOWAS chairman, and his team continue to pursue diplomatic efforts to reintegrate Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali into the organization. Tinubu has reiterated the bloc’s openness and friendliness toward these nations.
According to the Henley Passport Index, Burkina Faso’s passport is ranked 78th globally and offers access to 60 visa-free destinations, including many ECOWAS member states. It remains to be seen how the removal of the ECOWAS logo will impact Burkina Faso’s visa agreements within the bloc.
Discussion about this post