Burkina Faso: In the fight against terrorism, the Legislative Assembly adopts a Law on migration flow
Engaged in an anti-terrorism strategy, Burkinabe authorities, under the leadership of Transitional President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, are not lacking in initiatives.
The transitional legislative assembly adopted on Thursday, February 22, 2024, the law on entry and residence conditions for foreigners, as well as the exit of nationals and foreigners from the national territory.
Mahamoudou Sana, the Minister in charge of security, welcomed this adoption, stating that it provides the government with more legal tools to effectively combat terrorism and any form of threat.
« We wanted to review this law to give us more legal tools to better fight against terrorism. You know that talking about combating terrorism also involves controlling migratory flows. And this will contribute significantly to the fight against terrorism ». the minister said.
According to the minister, the legal text that regulated the conditions of entry and exit of foreigners and nationals in Burkina Faso dates back to 1984, hence the need to readapt it to changes, both in terms of threats and international conventions, as well as international standards.
In terms of entry procedures into Burkinabe territory, Mahamadou Sana noted that foreigners must have a visa and a residence document. For nationals, they must provide proof of nationality. Their exits must be justified, among other things, by a travel document, the visa of the destination, and health formalities.
According to Mahamadou Sana, this new law strengthens « a certain number of legal provisions and clarifies certain concepts that were not taken into account in ordinance 84 such as foreigners, nationals, stateless persons, refugees » . He also indicates that this new text takes into account the digitalization of security administration and provides means to also combat any form of threat.
In the current context of Burkina Faso, threatened by terrorism, this new law comes at an opportune time. Authorities must implement all means for the application of this law, and especially to ensure it is compatible with the promotion of tourism.
