Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – In a significant move, Burkina Faso has introduced new biometric passports that notably exclude the logo of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), marking a clear step towards solidifying its withdrawal from the regional bloc. This decision follows a military coup that brought the current leadership to power and underscores Burkina Faso’s intent to distance itself from the 15-member alliance.
At the launch of the new passports on Tuesday, Burkina Faso’s Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana, 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 introduction of these passports comes at a time of heightened tensions between Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali—all of which are contemplating or have initiated withdrawals from ECOWAS. The regional organization has warned that these actions could have significant consequences, including compromising the freedom of movement and the integrity of the common market that has long benefited the 400 million citizens across its member states.
This development occurs as Burkina Faso and its neighboring countries face increasing threats from insurgent groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State, adding further complexity to the region’s already precarious security situation.