Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will soon introduce new biometric passports, Mali’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, announced on Sunday. This move marks another step by the junta-led nations to reinforce their alliance after breaking away from the regional bloc ECOWAS.
Since 2020, the three Sahel nations have undergone military coups and, in September last year, united under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) following their split from France, their former colonial power, and a strategic shift towards Russia.
In January, the nations further distanced themselves from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), accusing the organisation of being under French influence.
In July, the alliance strengthened with the formation of the Confederation of Sahel States, which will be chaired by Mali in its inaugural year and represents a population of around 72 million people.
Colonel Goita, during a televised address on Sunday, stated, “In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the AES will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonising travel documents in our common area.”
He further emphasised efforts to improve infrastructure to enhance connectivity between their territories, including transport, communication networks, and information technology.
The announcement comes as the three countries prepare to celebrate the first anniversary of the creation of their alliance.
All three nations continue to face the ongoing threat of insurgencies, which began in northern Mali in 2012 and spread to Niger and Burkina Faso by 2015. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions across the region.