Burkina Faso’s military-led government has approved a new decree requiring all students seeking higher education abroad to obtain prior authorisation from the...
Burkina Faso’s military-led government has approved a new decree requiring all students seeking higher education abroad to obtain prior authorisation from the Ministry of Higher Education before leaving the country. The measure applies to students travelling on government scholarships, private sponsorships or personal funding and has sparked concern from Human Rights Watch over its potential impact on the rights to education and freedom of movement.
The decree was adopted by the Council of Ministers on June 25 but has not yet come into effect. According to the government, the new policy is part of wider efforts to strengthen oversight of higher education, improve the monitoring of students studying overseas and promote what authorities describe as “scientific sovereignty.”
Government officials say the requirement is intended to protect Burkinabè students from enrolling at fraudulent foreign institutions, improve consular support by maintaining an official register of students abroad and ensure that overseas training aligns with the country’s national development priorities. Authorities also say the policy aims to help students return home with skills that contribute to Burkina Faso’s socio-economic development.
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The new rules will apply to every Burkinabè student planning to pursue studies outside the country, regardless of how their education is financed. Reports indicate that students receiving scholarships from international organisations will also be required to obtain prior approval before travelling abroad.
Human Rights Watch has criticised the decree, arguing that the requirement introduces unnecessary restrictions on internationally recognised rights. The organisation said governments have a legitimate interest in collecting information on students studying abroad and protecting them from fraudulent institutions, but requiring official permission before students can leave the country raises broader concerns.
The rights group said much will depend on how the decree is implemented. It noted that the government has not yet published the legal framework explaining how applications will be assessed, under what circumstances approval may be denied or whether unsuccessful applicants will have access to an appeals process or judicial review. Without those safeguards, Human Rights Watch warned that the system could allow arbitrary or discriminatory decision-making.
A former Burkinabè judge, quoted by Human Rights Watch, expressed concern that the authorisation process could be applied selectively. The judge said there was a risk that decisions could be influenced by political opinion, ethnicity or gender if clear legal safeguards are not established. Human Rights Watch also noted comments by the Higher Education Minister suggesting that some students abroad were pursuing programmes that were not aligned with the current government’s vision.
The new education policy comes as Burkina Faso’s military government continues to introduce measures aimed at increasing state oversight in different sectors. Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s administration has said such reforms are designed to strengthen national institutions, improve governance and promote development priorities. However, several international human rights organisations have raised concerns about recent policies affecting civil society and public freedoms.
Education remains an important pathway for many Burkinabè students seeking specialised training unavailable within the country. France and several other countries have traditionally been among the preferred destinations for higher education because of long-standing academic partnerships and scholarship opportunities. The new authorisation requirement adds an additional administrative step for students planning to pursue degrees overseas.
The government has not yet announced when the decree will officially take effect or released detailed guidelines explaining how applications for overseas study will be processed. Human Rights Watch has called on the authorities to ensure that any implementing regulations include transparent criteria, independent oversight and effective appeal mechanisms to protect students’ rights while allowing the government to achieve its stated education objectives.
