Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – The government of Burkina Faso has turned down what it described as an “indecent” proposal from the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, which asked the West African nation to receive deportees from the United States, including individuals who are not Burkinabe citizens.

Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré revealed on national television Thursday that the U.S. request went beyond repatriating Burkinabe nationals, asking the country to accept migrants expelled from the U.S. regardless of their origin.

“Naturally, this proposal, which we considered indecent, goes against our values of dignity and national sovereignty — principles central to the vision of Captain Ibrahim Traoré,” the minister said, referencing the country’s current military leader.

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Tensions Rise as U.S. Suspends Visa Services

The minister’s remarks came shortly after the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou announced the suspension of most visa services for Burkinabe residents, redirecting visa applicants to the U.S. Embassy in neighboring Togo.

Although the embassy gave no clear explanation for the decision, the Burkinabe Foreign Minister cited a U.S. diplomatic note that accused some Burkinabe citizens of violating visa usage regulations.

Traoré dismissed the suspension as a possible “pressure tactic” and reaffirmed the country’s stance, saying:

“Burkina Faso is a land of dignity — not deportation.”

As of press time, the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had not responded to requests for comment.

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Controversy Over U.S. Deportation Agreements

Since July, the Trump administration has reportedly deported more than 40 migrants to various African nations under a largely confidential third-country deportation program.

According to reports, deportees have been sent to Eswatini, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Ghana, while an agreement with Uganda is in place, though no transfers there have been confirmed.

Rights groups have criticized these deals as opaque and inhumane. In one instance, six deportees are still being detained in an undisclosed facility in South Sudan, while Rwanda has not disclosed the location of seven deportees it received.

In Ghana, eleven of the fourteen migrants deported last month filed a lawsuit against the government, alleging they were being held in harsh conditions at a military camp near Accra.

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Human Rights Concerns and Financial Incentives

A report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) revealed that several African countries entered these deportation arrangements in exchange for financial benefits from the United States.

HRW said it reviewed written agreements indicating that Eswatini would receive $5.1 million in U.S. funding for migration and border management programs, while Rwanda would receive $7.5 million for similar initiatives.

The organization condemned the deals, warning that financial incentives risk undermining human rights standards and sovereignty across the continent.