Burkina Faso Launches New Biometric Passport Without ECOWAS Logo

Burkina Faso launched a new biometric passport on Tuesday. The latest-generation passport carries no logo nor mention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on it, as announced by Burkinabe Minister of Security Mahamadou Sana.

The removal of the ECOWAS logo from the new passport is not a surprise as the Sahel country pulled out of ECOWAS in January. In July, Burkina Faso formed the confederation of Alliance of Sahel States (AES), along with Niger and Mali.

The new passport features an electronic chip with a large storage capacity for collecting and storing data. Burkina Faso is the first West African country to acquire this type of passport and the 10th in Africa, according to the Director General of the National Identification Office (ONI), Perfect Louré.

The passport was designed by a Chinese company, Emptech, in a Public-Private Partnership with the West African country.

“The passport belongs to the latest generation of passport recommended by the international authorities of control of international civil aviation,” Louré said.

Furthermore, the new passport system will allow for online pre-registration and instant data transmission to embassies.

Burkinabe security minister Sana assured holders of the old passport that their passports will remain valid until they expire. He also said that the price of the new passport will remain at 50,000 FCFA ($84) as the old one, but added that specific amenities about the new passport may be taxed.

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