Joel Ahofodji, the Head of Communication for the ECOWAS Commission, confirmed this development on Wednesday, stating that the ECOWAS Extraordinary Council will convene on April 22 to address the import duty issue along with other related matters.
The ECOWAS spokesperson further played down retaliatory moves saying the regional bloc would only address concerns over the 0.5% import levy imposed by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) during the upcoming ECOWAS Extraordinary Council meeting
Analysts have however, criticized ECOWAS for its failure to prevent the withdrawal of the Sahel States from the bloc.
Developments like this were anticipated following the AES’s decision to introduce a new passport, change their flags, and sever all ties with their former regional organization.
The AES’ 0.5% import levy
The military juntas governing the Alliance of Sahel States—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger— recently imposed a 0.5% import duty on goods from ECOWAS nations, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the two blocs.
Effective immediately, the levy applies to all imports from ECOWAS countries, with the exception of humanitarian aid. This move has raised concerns about its potential impact on regional trade and economic stability.
The introduction of this tariff signals the end of free trade across West Africa, a principle that has been a cornerstone of ECOWAS for decades.
It also directly contradicts the bloc’s objective of facilitating the free movement of goods, including those from the AES countries, despite their official withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2025.
The upcoming ECOWAS discussions are expected to focus on diplomatic and economic responses to the new tariff, as well as its broader implications for cross-border commerce in the region.
