Burkina Faso – Burkina Faso introduced its latest generation biometric passport on Tuesday, notably lacking the ECOWAS logo and mention, a move detailed by the country’s security minister.
According to the Burkina Information Agency, Minister of Security Mahamadou Sana highlighted that the new Burkinabe biometric passport omits the ECOWAS logo and mention, focusing on increased security measures and enhanced functionality. The passport features an electronic chip that supports online pre-registration and flexible registration processes, either connected or disconnected, allowing instant data transmission to embassies.
The minister also reassured the public that the current passport would remain valid until its expiration. Additionally, the cost for the new passport will be maintained at 50,000 FCFA, the same as the old passport, though certain new features may incur additional taxes.
Parfait Louré, the Director General of the National Identification Office (ONI), explained that the new document is crafted from polycarbonate material and was designed by the Chinese company Emptech under a Public-Private Partnership with the state. Louré emphasized, “The new passport belongs to the latest generation of passports recommended by international civil aviation authorities.” This initiative marks Burkina Faso as the first country in West Africa and the tenth in Africa to adopt such a sophisticated identification document, part of a process initiated in 2022.