Burkina Faso has rejected a proposal from the United States to accept foreigners being deported under former President Donald Trump’s immigration policy.
According to Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, Ouagadougou turned down multiple approaches from Washington, calling the request inappropriate and inconsistent with the country’s principles.
He stressed that Burkina Faso’s recent move to lift visa fees for all Africans should not be misconstrued as an invitation to host unwanted deportees.
The decision marks a further strain in relations between the Burkinabe military government and Western powers, as the junta under Captain Ibrahim Traoré continues to deepen cooperation with Russia.
While neighboring Ghana has agreed to take in some West African deportees, Burkina Faso has firmly declined.
In response, the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou has temporarily halted routine visa services and directed applicants to its office in Lomé, Togo, as the U.S. State Department remains silent on the issue.
