On September 15, in Bamako, Mali, the junta leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced the introduction of new biometric passports under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), as CNBC reported. This development follows their joint decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a 15-member bloc, in response to the military takeovers in all three countries. The new passports are part of a broader effort to harmonize travel documents and facilitate mobility across the region as the countries shift away from ECOWAS regulations.

Mali’s leader Assimi Goita declared, “In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the AES will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonizing travel documents in our common area.” According to Reuters, he also emphasized the alliance’s goals of creating shared information platforms: “We are planning to launch a shared information channel in order to promote a harmonious dissemination of information in our three states.” Meanwhile, ECOWAS warned that the countries’ withdrawal could “undermine the freedom of movement and common market” across the 400 million people in the region. Burkina Faso has already issued its first passports without the ECOWAS logo, signaling the beginning of this transition.

The decision by the Sahel states to withdraw from ECOWAS highlights a growing divide between the military-led governments and the broader West African community. While the three nations argue that the move will strengthen their sovereignty and regional collaboration, critics point out the risks of further isolation, particularly in terms of economic cooperation and security efforts against terrorist insurgencies. ECOWAS, which has played a significant role in maintaining regional stability and promoting development, sees this departure as a major threat to its unity. The military juntas’ consolidation of power also raises concerns about the future of democracy and governance in these states, given the coups that led to their current regimes.

The background of this development can be traced to the military coups in Mali (2020), Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger (2023). Each of these governments has expressed dissatisfaction with ECOWAS, particularly its sanctions and its efforts to restore civilian rule. In January, the three countries announced their formation of the Sahel alliance, signaling a break from ECOWAS. This new alliance is being shaped as a counterbalance to what the juntas see as external interference in their domestic affairs. At the same time, insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State continue to threaten stability, intensifying the region’s security challenges. 

For sustainable peace, dialogue between the Sahel alliance and ECOWAS is essential to prevent further fragmentation and address shared threats like terrorism. A balance between sovereignty and cooperative security is necessary to ensure long-term stability and peace.