Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, three West African nations now led by military juntas, are set to introduce a new biometric passport as part of their formal withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This move signals the latest step in their growing alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States, and is expected to take place “in the coming days.”
The military leaders of these nations came to power through a series of coups between 2020 and 2023, and in January, they collectively announced their intent to leave Ecowas. Their decision followed sanctions imposed by other West African countries in an attempt to pressure the juntas into restoring civilian rule. However, the alliance has firmly resisted these calls, instead choosing to strengthen ties among themselves.
