Burkina Faso has officially launched a new biometric passport that notably omits the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) logo, further solidifying its withdrawal from the regional bloc. The move comes after Burkina Faso, along with Niger and Mali, cut ties with ECOWAS following military coups in the three countries.
Burkina Faso’s security minister, Mahamadou Sana, announced the issuance of passports without the ECOWAS insignia.
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 decision comes after the three nations severed ties with the 15-member ECOWAS bloc, which had imposed sanctions on them following the military takeovers. While the organization issued only a suspension, it has been pressing for a return to constitutional order before any sanctions are lifted.
Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, has denounced any plans for reintegration, accusing ECOWAS of straying from its pan-African ideals. Despite its exit, Burkina Faso’s new passport remains relatively powerful, ranked 78th globally on the Henley Passport Index, offering visa-free access to 60 destinations, including current ECOWAS member countries.
ECOWAS has expressed concerns that the withdrawal of these nations could disrupt the free movement of people and goods within its borders, potentially affecting the bloc’s 400 million citizens. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the current ECOWAS chairman, has been actively urging the three countries to reconsider their stance, highlighting the organization’s willingness to maintain friendly relations.
The new biometric passport launch is seen as a symbolic yet practical step in Burkina Faso’s distancing from the regional ECOWAS framework amid ongoing political and diplomatic tensions in West Africa.
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