Tensions have risen between Burkina Faso and the United States after the West African nation refused a proposal to accept migrants deported from the US, prompting Washington to suspend the issuing of visas in the country.
Speaking on national television, Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré questioned Washington’s motives, describing the US decision as possible “blackmail” after Burkina Faso declined multiple offers to receive third-country deportees.
“Burkina Faso is a nation of dignity — not a destination for expulsion,” Traoré declared, emphasizing that his government would not compromise its sovereignty under external pressure.
The US Embassy in Ouagadougou has announced a temporary suspension of all visa services, including tourist, student, and business categories. Citizens seeking visas will now have to travel to Togo’s capital, Lomé, for processing.
According to local reports, the US justified its move by citing Burkina Faso’s failure to comply with certain visa regulations and its rejection of migration cooperation proposals.
Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has maintained a strong anti-imperialist stance since coming to power in a 2022 military coup, repeatedly asserting national independence from Western influence.
The visa dispute comes amid a broader US immigration crackdown, with several African countries — including Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan — reportedly accepting small groups of deportees under Washington’s program.
However, Burkina Faso and Nigeria have both refused to participate, with Traoré insisting that the proposal was “indecent” and contrary to African principles of sovereignty and human dignity.
The diplomatic standoff underscores growing friction between Washington and several Sahelian governments, many of which have recently shifted toward non-Western alliances while pursuing self-reliant policies under pan-African rhetoric.