By By: Alphanso G. Kalama
Burkina Faso has introduced a new biometric passport devoid of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) logo, marking a significant step in its disengagement from the regional bloc. This development follows Burkina Faso’s decision, along with Niger and Mali, to sever ties with ECOWAS in response to military coups in the three countries.
The announcement of the new passport design was made by Burkina Faso’s Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana, on Tuesday. “On this passport, there’s no ECOWAS logo, and no mention of ECOWAS either,” Sana stated. “Since January, Burkina Faso has decided to withdraw from this body, and this is just a realisation of the action already taken by Burkina Faso.”
Despite its exit from ECOWAS, Burkina Faso’s passport remains robust on the global stage, ranked 78th by the Henley Passport Index. It provides visa-free access to 60 destinations, including those within the current ECOWAS member states.
The departure of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali from ECOWAS has raised concerns about potential impacts on regional integration, including the free movement of people and goods within the bloc, which serves over 400 million citizens.
ECOWAS Chair and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has been actively engaged in efforts to persuade the three nations to reconsider their exit, stressing the organization’s openness to maintaining amicable relations.
Note: this article was firstly published by the PUNCH News.
