Burkina Faso’s military government has firmly declined a US proposal to accept deportees from third countries, prompting Washington to suspend visa issuance in the West African nation. Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, in a televised interview on state broadcaster RTB, questioned whether the US Embassy’s decision was a form of “blackmail” and emphasized Burkina Faso’s commitment to dignity, stating it is “a destination, not a place of expulsion.” The US Embassy in Ouagadougou announced a temporary halt to issuing immigrant, tourist, student, and business visas, requiring Burkinabé residents to apply at the US Embassy in neighboring Togo instead. This development follows the Trump administration’s broader strategy to deport migrants, particularly targeting African nations. While countries like Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan have accepted US deportees, Burkina Faso and Nigeria have resisted. Capt Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s leader, has positioned himself as a pan-African advocate against Western imperialism, further straining relations with Western nations since the military coup three years ago. The US State Department and Department of Homeland Security have yet to comment on the matter.