Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are set to introduce new biometric passports as part of their shift away from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and towards their newly formed Sahel alliance. This move comes after military leaders seized control in all three nations, prompting a realignment of their regional affiliations.
Malian junta leader, Assimi Goita, announced the development on Sunday, explaining that the new passports would harmonize travel documents across the three nations, now united under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). “In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the AES will be put into circulation with the aim of facilitating the mobility of our citizens throughout the world,” Goita stated.
This announcement follows Burkina Faso’s earlier decision to introduce passports without the ECOWAS logo, signaling the countries’ collective withdrawal from the 15-member bloc. ECOWAS has urged these nations to reconsider their decision, warning that their exit could disrupt the freedom of movement and the shared market enjoyed by over 400 million people across the region.
Goita’s statement came ahead of a meeting between the foreign ministers of the three nations, marking the anniversary of the decision to form their new alliance. He also mentioned plans to launch a shared information channel, aimed at promoting coordinated communication among the Sahel states.
The departure from ECOWAS happens at a time when the armies of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are actively battling insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. These conflicts have destabilized the Sahel region over the past decade and pose a growing threat to nearby coastal West African states.
As these nations focus on strengthening their alliance and enhancing security cooperation, their biometric passport initiative represents another step towards deeper integration under the AES.
