Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are introducing new biometric passports as part of their withdrawal from the West African bloc ECOWAS in favor of a new alliance of Sahel countries after military leaders seized power in all three countries. reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
In January, the three junta-ruled Sahel neighbors jointly announced they would leave the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has tried to persuade them to reconsider their decision.
Earlier this month, Burkina Faso announced it was introducing new passports without the organization's logo.
"In the coming days, a new EAC (Alliance of Sahel States) biometric passport will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonizing travel documents in our common space and facilitating the mobility of our citizens around the world," the leader announced last night of the Malian junta Assimi Goita. He made this statement before today's meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries on the occasion of the anniversary of the decision to create their regional union.
Goyta added that they also plan to launch a common information channel "to promote the harmonious dissemination of information in our three countries".
ECOWAS warned that the withdrawal of the three countries would undermine the freedom of movement and the common market of the 400 million people living in the 49-year-old bloc. They are withdrawing as their armies battle groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, which threaten to destabilize the region.