The decision by the Embassy of the United States in Burkina Faso to relocate visa services to the Embassy of the United States in Togo has triggered strong reactions in Ouagadougou. While Washington attributes the move to visa overstay issues, Burkinabe authorities argue that the true reasons are political and diplomatic.
U.S. Embassy in Burkina Faso suspends visa services
“Effective Friday, October 10, 2025, all routine visa operations at the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou are suspended,” the U.S. Embassy announced in a statement.
From now on, Burkinabe citizens seeking U.S. visas will have to apply in Lomé, Togo. “Applicants with scheduled appointments have been informed. Nonimmigrant visa applicants who need a visa during the suspension of visa operations must submit their application to the U.S. Embassy in Lomé,” the statement continued.
The embassy further noted that “applications and fees are non-transferable and must be renewed and paid at the new location,” adding that “this suspension does not affect official and diplomatic visas, which will continue to follow existing procedures.”
U.S. Justifies the Decision With Overstay Rates
The United States says the measure is linked to immigration concerns. “Burkina Faso has a high rate of overstays for tourists, business travelers, and students traveling to the United States,” the embassy explained.
“Although this does not reflect the position of the government of Burkina Faso, the U.S. government takes these issues very seriously and has implemented measures to address them,” the statement added.
Burkina Faso sees political pressure
In Ouagadougou, the decision has raised eyebrows. Speaking on national television, Minister of Foreign Affairs Karamoko Traoré offered a different explanation.
“It turns out that the diplomatic note we received contained suggestions referring to an agreement the United States tried to propose to the Burkinabe side since the Trump administration took office,” he said.
According to Traoré, the U.S. made a proposal to several African countries as part of its migration policy. “The idea was to offer African countries that wish to do so the possibility of receiving nationals who are living in the United States without valid residence status and are being identified for deportation,” he explained.
Burkina Faso, however, declined the proposal. “We Were Surprised by the Measure”
“The proposal that had been made was to see if Burkina Faso, beyond receiving its own nationals, would also be ready to receive other people expelled by the United States,” Traoré revealed.
“We were surprised by this measure, which suddenly came after our categorical refusal to receive people considered undesirable,” he said.
“Naturally, we had found this proposal indecent at the time. It is totally contrary to the value of dignity, which is at the core of Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s vision. We said that Burkina Faso could not be that destination,” he added.
He also stressed that Burkina Faso is a welcoming country, not “a land of deportation.”
Burkina Faso promises a reciprocal response
The minister also made clear that the government intends to respond appropriately. “The good news through today’s progressive popular revolution is that we are emphasizing mutual respect. We will maintain good relations with all states that respect us as human beings, with all states that respect our dignity,” he declared.
However, he warned that “the measure that has been taken will not leave us indifferent.”
“In diplomacy, we talk about reciprocity. We will take the necessary measures, to the extent of those taken by the American authorities, without compromising the friendship, solidarity, and fraternity between the people of Burkina Faso and the American people,” he added.
Finally, Traoré reaffirmed that Burkina Faso remains “an open land, a country of dialogue, (…) that wishes to establish and nurture relations with all countries that respect us.”
