Burkina Faso soldiers patrol aboard a pickup truck on the road from Dori to the Goudebo refugee camp, on February 3, 2020.
Burkina Faso’s military junta has approved a law requiring every Burkinabè student wishing to pursue higher education abroad—whether funded by a government scholarship or through private means—to obtain prior authorization from the Ministry of Higher Education.
The Council of Ministers adopted the decree on June 25, but it has yet to go into effect. The government has presented the measure as part of a broader effort to strengthen oversight of higher education and promote “scientific sovereignty.”
Officials say the decree is intended to protect students from fraudulent foreign universities, improve consular protection by maintaining a register of students abroad, align overseas training with national development priorities, and protect young people from indoctrination or unsafe environments.
While the state has a legitimate interest in collecting data on students abroad and protecting them from educational scams, the breadth of these measures is concerning. Rather than establishing a system of registration or notification, the Burkina Faso authorities are introducing a system of prior governmental authorization before students may pursue higher education abroad. Such a requirement restricts internationally protected rights, including freedom of movement and education.
Much will depend on the implementing framework, which has yet to be made public. There is no indication of the criteria by which authorization could be denied, whether decisions will provide reasons, or if applicants will have access to an independent appeals process or effective judicial review. Without such safeguards, broad administrative discretion threatens arbitrary and discriminatory decision-making.
“There is a risk of selective application based on political op
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