Burkina Faso’s junta government has introduced a new biometric passport, which notably excludes the insignia of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Officials revealed the updated passport on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the country’s documentation policy.
The new passport, equipped with an electronic chip, allows for advanced data collection and storage, with enhanced security features. “This new document enables online pre-registration, flexible registration whether online or offline, and instant data transmission to embassies,” explained Security Minister Mahamadou Sana.
The minister confirmed that existing passports will remain valid until their expiration, while applicants for the new biometric version will pay a fee of 50,000 West African CFA francs ($84.46). However, additional services linked to the new passport may incur extra charges, he noted.
According to Parfait Loure, head of the National Identification Office (ONI), the passport is made of polycarbonate and was produced by the Chinese company Emptech. Loure highlighted that Burkina Faso is the first West African nation and the 10th in Africa to adopt this state-of-the-art identification technology, in line with international civil aviation standards. The move comes after a process that began in 2022.
The newly introduced passport comes after Burkina Faso’s exit from ECOWAS in 2023, along with Mali and Niger, following the regional bloc’s threats of military intervention after a coup in Niger. Since then, the three countries have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and created a joint military force aimed at tackling the security threats posed by terrorist groups in the region.
SOURCE: https://dew360.net
Join our WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakDz4u9RZATWh53yC1a
