Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are set to introduce new biometric passports as part of their exit from a West African bloc, Reuters reported.
The junta-led countries have formed a new Sahel alliance (Alliance of Sahel States) following military takeovers in all three nations, Mali’s leader announced on Sunday.
In January, the three junta-led Sahel countries jointly declared their intention to withdraw from the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). All international and regional efforts to retain them within the bloc have been futile.
Earlier this month, Burkina Faso’s Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana announced that the country would begin issuing new passports without the ECOWAS logo to solidify its break from the regional bloc.
“In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonising travel documents in our common area and facilitating the mobility of our citizens throughout the world”, Malian junta leader Assimi Goita announced on Sunday evening.
He made this statement ahead of a meeting on Monday between the foreign ministers of the three countries, marking the anniversary of their decision to form their alliance.
Goita also mentioned plans to launch a shared information channel to ensure “harmonious dissemination of information” across their states.
Although the economy of the three countries accounts for about 8% of the bloc’s gross domestic product, ECOWAS has expressed concerns that the withdrawal of these three nations could jeopardize the freedom of movement and the common market for the 400 million people residing in the 49-year-old bloc.
