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MALI, NIGER & BURKINA FASO BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS TO BE EFFECTED BEFORE FEBRUARY

MALI, NIGER & BURKINA FASO BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS TO BE EFFECTED BEFORE FEBRUARY
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Faith Nyasuguta

The Alliance of the Sahel States (AES) is making significant strides towards regional unity with the planned launch of biometric passports. This move, which will include Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, aims to simplify travel within the AES region and further solidify the trio’s breakaway from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The biometric passports are expected to go into effect on January 29, 2025.

Assimi Goita, Mali’s interim president and the current chair of AES, confirmed that the new passports will replace the existing ECOWAS-branded travel documents. The announcement was made after the AES’s formation, following the trio’s decision to exit ECOWAS, a regional bloc they had been part of for decades.

Originally proposed in September 2024, the plan to adopt biometric passports was introduced as part of a greater strategy to strengthen regional ties and to facilitate ease of movement for citizens within the AES region. By shifting away from ECOWAS, these nations aim to establish a new identity, one that fosters greater autonomy and unity among the three countries, which are now under revolutionary leadership following military coups.

/AES/

Despite the change, expired ECOWAS passports will remain valid until their designated expiration dates. Citizens of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso will be able to exchange their old ECOWAS documents for the new AES passports, which will clearly reflect the countries’ decision to leave the 15-member bloc. This initiative has been framed as a significant step toward ensuring smoother travel for AES citizens and standardizing travel documents within the region.

The idea behind biometric passports is to enhance security, reduce fraudulent activities, and streamline movement between the Sahel nations. The biometric passports, equipped with modern technology, will be a more secure form of identification and will make travel between these countries more accessible for citizens. This change is seen as a bold move by the revolutionary leaders of these nations, who have been advocating for greater control over their domestic and regional affairs.

The three Sahelian nations have been under military rule since coups ousted their previous democratic governments. Their governments have been vocal about their desire to form a more independent regional bloc that will reduce external influences and focus on mutual cooperation. With the military’s firm control over these nations, the AES bloc is expected to grow in significance.

This decision comes despite significant pressure from ECOWAS and the international community to remain within the regional union. The economic impact of their departure has been noted, with the three countries contributing around 8% to ECOWAS’s GDP. ECOWAS has raised concerns about the potential instability that could arise from the fragmentation of the bloc, fearing the exit of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger could lead to diminished freedom of movement and market integration for the 400 million people across the region.

/BIA/

Regional leaders have failed to persuade the revolutionary governments in these countries to reverse their decisions, and every attempt by ECOWAS to resolve the situation has fallen short. The formation of the AES confederation pact is seen as a step toward further solidifying the break from ECOWAS and paving the way for a new phase in West Africa’s political and economic landscape.

In January 2024, the revolutionary leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their intention to formally exit ECOWAS, setting in motion the creation of the AES bloc. This historic move has led to tension between the AES countries and ECOWAS, as well as heightened global attention on the evolving political dynamics in the region. The launch of the biometric passports is a symbol of the revolutionary trio’s determination to forge a path independent of ECOWAS and to assert their leadership in the Sahel region.

The upcoming passport rollout marks a new chapter in the Sahel countries’ journey toward regional integration, independence, and self-determination.

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Faith Nyasuguta

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