The West African country of Burkina Faso launched a new biometric passport in early September, modernizing its security features while also making a bold political statement.
The new passport reflects a new political stance
In contrast to the country’s previous passport (introduced in 2018), the 2024 version omits the logo for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Biometric Update explains, “Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, West African countries currently governed by military regimes, announced their decision to quit the 15-nation ECOWAS bloc in January after being slammed [with] sanctions over military coups.”
Phil Hodge, Document Expert at Keesing Technologies, explains, “Not only is the removal of references to ECOWAS on the passport symbolic of the country’s recent political shifts and its decision to distance itself from the wider economic community, but the new passports are also the first in West Africa to incorporate advanced biometric technology.”
A closer look at the document itself
The new Burkina Faso passport meets the security standards for travel documents set forth by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Here is closer look at the 2024 passport:
The 2024 passport cover omits the ECOWAS logo
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| 2018 | 2024 |
The ECOWAS logo has also been omitted from the inside front cover of the 2024 passport.
The images below illustrate the modernization of the 2024 Burkina Faso passport.
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| Personal datapage |
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| Sample of inside pages |
*The images of 2024 passport courtesy of the issuing agency, Office National d ’Identification Burkina Faso.
Watch the video for a dynamic look at the new Burkina Faso passport.
Sources/References:
Office National d’Identification Burkina Faso
Biometric Update
West Africa Weekly
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