Burkinabè in Cameroon Call for Opening of Consulate to Ease Travel

YAOUNDÉ – Members of the Burkinabè community residing in Cameroon have expressed a strong desire for the establishment of a Cameroonian consulate in Burkina Faso. This appeal was made to the Minister of State in charge of the Civil Service, Bassolma Bazié, highlighting the need to improve bilateral exchanges and ease the travel process between the two countries.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Labor and Social Protection, Bassolma Bazié, the request was made during a meeting with the Burkinabè diaspora living in Cameroon. The absence of a Cameroonian diplomatic presence in Burkina Faso contrasts with the existing Burkinabè consulate in Yaoundé, a disparity that complicates travel for Burkinabè wishing to visit Cameroon. The president of the Burkinabè community in Yaoundé, Pr Hamidou Koné, underscored this point, as reported by the communications services of Minister Bassolma.

The Burkinabè residents also voiced other challenges, including difficulties in obtaining and renewing essential travel and identification documents such as passports and identity cards. These issues underscore the broader needs of the Burkinabè diaspora in Cameroon, who contribute significantly to their home country’s development through various means, including financial remittances and participation in community initiatives.

The community comprises individuals employed by international organizations, NGOs, sub-regional bodies, and those engaged in informal sector activities. It also includes students, interns, and Cameroonian spouses of Burkinabè origin, all of whom play a vital role in the socio-economic fabric of both Burkina Faso and Cameroon.

The dialogue between Minister Bassolma and the Burkinabè in Cameroon occurred on the margins of the open days of the African Regional Labor Administration Center (CRADAT), where the minister currently serves as the president of the Board of Directors.