France stops issuing visas to students from 3 African countries

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the suspension of new visas for students from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso who had planned to study in France. This decision follows the closure of French consular services in these countries..

Scholarships not concerned

Campus Francethe French agency for the promotion of French higher education abroad and the reception of foreign students in France, has specified that the scholarships granted to students from these three countries already present on French territory remain active. There are currently around 3,000 students from Mali, 2,500 from Burkina Faso and 1,200 from Niger in French higher education establishments.

Cooperation with the African countries concerned

Cooperation with Niger and the Burkina Faso was successively interrupted on July 29 and August 6, shortly after the coup d'état in Niger. A similar decision was taken in Mali in November 2022. Burkina Faso and Mali support the military who have seized power in neighboring Niger.

Last Friday, the Ministry of Research and Higher Education informed AFP that it was "forced to suspend our visa services and civil cooperation for security reasons". However, it is important to emphasize that this does not mean the end of existing collaborations with universities and other scientific establishments.

Reactions on the Internet are already flooding in:

It was a huge step backwards

- Nina DONA (@donagif33) September 18, 2023

Consequences for African students in these countries

For students from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso who had planned to study in France, this suspension of visas is a source of concern and uncertainty for their academic and professional future. Indeed, French higher education establishments are highly prized by these students for the quality of their training and the global network they can benefit from after graduation.

• Mali : The number of Malian students in France has risen significantly in recent years, from 1,815 in 2012 to over 3,000 today.
• Niger : University exchanges between France and Niger are also very intense, thanks in particular to recently signed hosting agreements in various sectors such as agriculture, hydrology, geophysics and renewable energies.
• Burkina Faso : Burkinabe students are also highly attracted to French higher education, with around 300 new scholarship holders each year.

• France

« An electronic visa for Eswatini operational "by October 31, 2023". Indian visa services suspended in Canada until further notice »