Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are preparing to introduce new biometric passports as part of efforts to deepen their alliance, according to Mali’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita.
The move comes as the three Sahel nations, each governed by military juntas following a wave of coups since 2020, work to strengthen their collaboration after breaking away from the Economic Community of West African States.
These nations united under the Alliance of Sahel States in September of 2023 after severing ties with their former colonial power, France, and gravitating toward Russia.
By January, they had formally turned their backs on ECOWAS, accusing the regional bloc of being influenced by French interests, which had strained relations between the parties.
In a televised address delivered Sunday, Goita revealed that the upcoming biometric passport would be launched shortly.
“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 declared.
This passport is seen as a step toward creating a cohesive identity among the nations, reflecting their growing independence from Western influence.
July marked a significant milestone for the alliance when they established the Confederation of Sahel States, further solidifying their bonds.
The confederation, which will be chaired by Mali during its first year, represents roughly 72 million people and aims to foster closer cooperation across several sectors, including security and economic development.
Goita also outlined plans to improve infrastructure and connectivity between the countries in his address, highlighting the importance of modernising transportation, communications, and information technology.
“We will be working to put in place the infrastructure needed to strengthen the connectivity of our territories through transport, communications networks and information technology,” he said, underscoring the need for regional integration.
The announcement of the biometric passport comes ahead of the one-year anniversary of the creation of the AES.
All three countries remain embroiled in a protracted struggle against jihadist violence that first erupted in Mali in 2012 and has since spread into Burkina Faso and Niger.
This ongoing conflict has devastated the region, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing millions of people.
By introducing unified travel documents and bolstering their infrastructural ties, the alliance seeks to present a united front against both external pressures and internal unrest, forging a path forward through closer collaboration.
