Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to Introduce Biometric Passports Under New Alliance

Politics John Brightwater September 17, 2024

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to Introduce Biometric Passports Under New Alliance

Summary
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are set to issue biometric passports as part of their Alliance of Sahel States, following their exit from ECOWAS. This initiative aims to harmonize travel documents and enhance citizen mobility, accompanied by plans for a joint investment bank and a shared news channel. ECOWAS has expressed concern over the implications of this withdrawal on regional free movement and economic collaboration.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are preparing to roll out biometric passports as a result of their newly formed alliance, following their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this year. Mali’s leader, Assimi Goita, announced on Sunday that the three nations will soon circulate a biometric passport under the auspices of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This initiative aims to standardize travel documentation within their region and enhance the mobility of citizens on a global scale. In his televised address, Goita underscored the significance of this development, occurring just before the one-year anniversary of the alliance’s establishment, after these countries severed ties with France. Furthermore, he pledged the creation of a joint investment bank and stabilization funds, as well as a shared news channel to ensure consistency in the transmission of information across their territories. ECOWAS has made efforts to persuade the three military-led nations, which have experienced a series of coups since 2020, to reconsider their withdrawal. They have cautioned that such a decision could jeopardize freedom of movement and disrupt the common market for the bloc’s 400 million residents.

The topic concerns the geopolitical shifts in West Africa, specifically the formation of a new alliance among Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which occurred following their exit from ECOWAS. This exit was motivated by perceptions of undue influence from former colonial powers, particularly France, and reflects a broader trend of increasing military governance in the region. The establishment of biometric passports is part of a concerted effort to reinforce regional autonomy and improve travel for citizens of these nations.

In summation, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s decision to issue biometric passports represents a significant step towards enhancing regional integration and autonomy after their withdrawal from ECOWAS. This move reflects broader trends in the region regarding self-determination and the dismantling of colonial influences. Furthermore, it highlights the leaders’ commitment to improving mobility and economic collaboration among member states of the new alliance.

Original Source: www.rfi.fr