A Cameroonian man, Jean Mboulé, recently made headlines after winning a legal case against the French government for unjustly denying him a visa. The story, reported by CNN, sheds light on the wider issue of African travelers losing billions of CFA francs annually due to visa rejections by Western countries.
In 2022, Mboulé and his wife, both living in South Africa, applied for visas to travel to France. While his wife, who holds a South African passport, was granted a visa, Jean was denied. The French embassy claimed his documents were fraudulent. Ironically, the same bank statement submitted by Jean was accepted as valid in his wife’s application.
Determined to fight back, Jean took legal action in the French city of Nantes. He won the case. As a result, the embassy was compelled to issue him a visa and pay compensation of €1,200 (approximately 780,000 FCFA).
Frustrated by the ordeal, Jean ultimately chose not to visit France. Instead, he used the money to travel to Mauritius.
Africans Lose Over 40 Billion FCFA to Visa Rejections in 2024
Jean Mboulé’s case is not an isolated incident. According to CNN, Africans collectively lost over 40 billion FCFA in 2024 alone due to rejected visa applications. The steep loss is largely attributed to high application fees and increasingly stringent visa requirements imposed by Western countries.
For example, a Schengen visa now costs about \$90 (60,000 FCFA). These fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome. Statistics show that applicants from poorer African nations are among the most frequently rejected.
A Matter of Trust
While many Africans face visa denials, Western embassies claim that each application is evaluated individually. The European Union maintains that visa officers must be convinced that applicants intend to comply with visa conditions. This caution stems from past violations, including overstays and failure to return home.
Legal Recourse Often Ignored
Despite the high rejection rates, few African applicants challenge the decisions legally. “Some, CNN says, simply re-apply,” often at a financial loss. In countries like the United Kingdom, visa applications can cost upwards of 100,000 FCFA, generating massive revenue from repeated applications.
In fact, in 2024 alone, the UK reportedly earned over 39 billion FCFA from visa application fees—much of it from rejected applications.
Jean Mboulé’s legal win serves as a rare example of holding Western immigration systems accountable. His case highlights a broader pattern of inequity and inspires more African applicants to seek legal redress when visas are unjustly denied.