The Burkina Faso government, led by military leader Ibrahim Traore, has rejected the USA’s proposal to accept deportees.

Speaking during a televised interview on Burkina Faso’s national broadcaster RTB in Ouagadougou, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, made the “blackmail” remark on Thursday, October 9.

He disclosed that he has had several proposals from the Trump-led administration to become a hub for the illegal immigrants the US is deporting, but he insists they have rejected it several times.

He said he had a meeting with the US Embassy on Wednesday in which he rejected the offer, which he says has been made repeatedly, to accept deportees.

On Thursday, the US embassy in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, said on its website that it would temporarily pause issuing immigrant, tourist, student and business traveller visas.

He said he had a meeting with the US Embassy on Wednesday in which he rejected the offer - he says has been made repeatedly - to accept deportees.

On Thursday, the US embassy in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, said on its website that it would temporarily pause issuing immigrant, tourist, student and business traveller visas.

In reaction, he quizzed, "Is this a way to put pressure on us? Is this blackmail? Whatever it is... Burkina Faso is a place of dignity, a destination, not a place of expulsion."

Due to the freeze on US visas to the Burkinabes, they now have to travel to the US embassy in the capital of neighbouring Togo.

The US State Department and Department of Homeland Security have been contacted for comment.

Donald Trump's administration has turned to African countries as a destination to deport migrants to as part of its crackdown on immigration.