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Burkina Faso Shuns ECOWAS Logo, Unveils New Passport

Burkina Faso has shunned the logo of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and unveiled a new biometric passport for its citizens. 

This followed the prolonged fracas between the country and ECOWAS, an indication that the country has already exited from the regional bloc. 

Recall that Burkina Faso, alongside Niger Republic and Mali, led by military juntas severed ties with ECOWAS since January. 

The decision to issue passports without the ECOWAS logo was announced by Burkina Faso’s Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana on Tuesday.

He said: "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 realisation of the action already taken by Burkina Faso."

ECOWAS had warned that the three countries' withdrawal from the 15-member states would rattle the freedom of movement of over 400 million people living in the bloc. 

The three neighbouring countries severed ties with the 50-year-old bloc after ECOWAS imposed sanctions in response to the military takeovers.

Though the regional body suspended the three counties, but it requested that the countries should return to constitutional order before the sanctions will be lifted.

According to Henley Passport Index, Burkina Faso’s passport still ranks 78th globally, just as the country provides visa-free access to 60 destinations, including current ECOWAS member countries despite the exit from the regional bloc. 

President Bola Tinubu, who is currently the Chairman of ECOWAS has been making moves to reunite the three neighbouring with the regional bloc but it appears that his efforts are unyielding. 
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