Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have unveiled plans to introduce biometric passports as part of their new regional collaboration under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This move follows their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after all three nations experienced military coups.
The AES biometric passports aim to harmonize travel documents, streamline international travel, and enhance regional cooperation between the countries. Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goita, announced the initiative ahead of a meeting of the countries’ foreign ministers, marking the anniversary of the alliance’s formation.
This shift marks a break from ECOWAS, which has long advocated for regional integration and free movement across West Africa’s 15-member bloc. ECOWAS has expressed concerns that the departure of these three nations could disrupt its efforts to implement a shared biometric ID system designed to replace the ECOWAS Travel Certificate.
The biometric ID system, once fully operational, is intended to enhance security, ease travel within the region, and promote economic and social ties. While some ECOWAS member states have already started issuing biometric ID cards, the full rollout remains gradual and incomplete.
The new AES biometric passports reflect a deeper push for regional independence and cooperation within the Sahel. These passports are expected to provide citizens of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger with greater mobility, while reinforcing the alliance’s vision for self-determination, separate from ECOWAS’s broader West African framework.
As the three nations continue to develop their new alliance, the biometric passport initiative will play a central role in shaping the region’s future integration and identity on the global stage.
Source: Reuters
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September 17, 2024 – by The Mobile ID World Editorial Team
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