Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s transitional president, has become the first recipient of the new Alliance of Sahel States (AES) passport following the bloc’s exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The passport is being produced at Burkina Faso’s migration division in Ouagadougou. Locals expressed optimism that the document could lower trade barriers and reduce high customs fees while enhancing cross-border connectivity. Despite lingering concerns about economic implications and relations with other ECOWAS countries, many in Ouagadougou view the new passport as a tool for fostering unity and driving economic growth. They also hope it will simplify travel between the three countries in the AES – Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. As the AES framework is implemented, the hope is that these changes will open up new opportunities for the region.
Source: africanews
