After Split from ECOWAS, Sahel Nations Announce New Biometric Passports

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will introduce new biometric passports to strengthen regional ties following their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The leaders of these three Sahel nations, currently under military rule, formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2023 and established the Confederation of Sahel States this year to enhance regional cooperation and connectivity.

Mali’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, announced the new AES biometric passport, emphasizing the need for standardized travel documentation across the alliance.

“We will be working to implement the necessary infrastructure to enhance connectivity within our region through improvements in transport, communication networks, and information technology,” Goita said.

The region has faced severe jihadist violence since 2012, leading to significant loss of life and displacement. The biometric passports are expected to improve security and support easier movement within the alliance.

In June, ECOWAS urged member states to implement the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) to advance the Free Movement Protocol by removing the 90-day stay requirement for citizens traveling within the region. But actual implementations have been delayed due to limited information and political will.

ECOWAS also partnered with Germany’s GIZ to empower women in border communities and facilitate the issuance of biometric ID cards. The pilot phase focused on the Mpack border between Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, aiming to enhance regional unity, peace, and security through improved biometric identity verification.

The AES and ECOWAS biometric systems share the goal of facilitating regional travel and integration, but differ in their scope and implementation.

ECOWAS has been working on a broader regional biometric identity card (ENBIC) for its 15 member states, aiming to enable free movement across West Africa. In contrast, the AES biometric passport initiative is more limited in scope, covering only the three countries that have withdrawn from ECOWAS.

The AES system is being developed as an alternative to ECOWAS documentation, with Burkina Faso already issuing passports without the ECOWAS logo. While both systems use biometric technology, the AES initiative appears to be more focused on asserting the autonomy of its member states and consolidating their new alliance, rather than integrating with the larger West African community.

Source: TV360 Nigeria

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September 30, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis