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Burkina Faso’s junta government has introduced a new biometric passport that no longer bears the emblem of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The passport, launched on Wednesday, is equipped with an electronic chip and boasts enhanced security features, allowing for advanced data collection and storage.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana announced that the new passport facilitates online pre-registration and instant data transmission to embassies. Despite the launch, current passports will remain valid until their expiration.
Applicants for the new biometric passport will be charged 50,000 West African CFA francs ($84.46), with potential additional fees for certain services.
Developed by the Chinese firm Emptech, this polycarbonate passport makes Burkina Faso the first West African country and the 10th in Africa to adopt such advanced technology, in compliance with international civil aviation standards. The initiative follows a process that began in 2022.
