Mali’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita has announced that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will soon roll out new biometric passports as part of their effort to strengthen regional ties following their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The three Sahel nations, all under military rule due to recent coups, formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September last year after severing historical ties with France and pivoting towards Russia. In January, they further distanced themselves from ECOWAS, accusing the organization of being under French influence.
In July, the nations deepened their collaboration by establishing the Confederation of Sahel States, which will be chaired by Mali in its inaugural year and encompasses approximately 72 million people.
During a televised address on Sunday, Goita revealed that a new AES biometric passport would soon be introduced to standardize travel documents across the alliance. He emphasized the broader goals of the initiative, stating, “We will be working to implement the necessary infrastructure to enhance connectivity within our region through improvements in transport, communication networks, and information technology.”
The announcement comes as the three countries prepare to mark the one-year anniversary of the AES.
All three nations are grappling with severe jihadist violence, which began in northern Mali in 2012 and has since spread to Niger and Burkina Faso, resulting in thousands of deaths and millions of displaced persons.
