Burkina Faso rejects the U.S. proposal to accept deported migrants

Burkina Faso has firmly rejected a U.S. proposal to accept deported migrants, calling the plan “indecent” and a violation of national dignity.

The move underscores the West African nation’s growing resistance to Western influence under its current military leadership.

Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, announced the rejection during a televised address, stating that the U.S. had requested the country to accept not only its own nationals but also non-citizens expelled from American soil.

Traoré described the proposal as “totally contrary to the value of dignity,” aligning with the vision of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the country’s military ruler who came to power in a 2022 coup.

The minister emphasised that Burkina Faso would not serve as a dumping ground for migrants with no ties to the nation.

The announcement came just hours after the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou suspended most visa services for Burkinabe citizens, redirecting applications to neighbouring Togo.

Traoré questioned whether this move was a form of diplomatic pressure or blackmail, reiterating that Burkina Faso is “a place of dignity, a destination, not a place of expulsion.”

The rejection stands in contrast to other African nations—such as Ghana, Rwanda, Eswatini, and South Sudan—that have agreed to accept deportees under similar arrangements, often incentivised by U.S. funding.

Under Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s leadership, Burkina Faso has increasingly distanced itself from Western powers, notably ending military cooperation with France and strengthening ties with Russia.

Analysts view the deportee standoff as part of a broader anti-imperialist stance adopted by the junta.

Human rights groups have criticised the U.S. third-country deportation program, citing poor conditions and a lack of transparency in host countries.

Burkina Faso’s refusal sends a clear message: it will not compromise its sovereignty or values for foreign agendas.