West African Military States to Launch New Biometric Passports After ECOWAS Exit

Three West African nations under military rule are preparing to implement new biometric passports as part of their transition away from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso will begin issuing the new travel documents on January 29, 2025, as they establish themselves as members of the Alliance of the Sahel States (AES), a confederation formed following political tensions with ECOWAS.

The initiative, first proposed in September 2024, will introduce passports featuring advanced biometric security measures aligned with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. These include contactless chips storing biographical data, digital photographs, and fingerprint information for enhanced identification and verification. Citizens holding existing passports will be able to exchange them for new documents bearing “AES” rather than “ECOWAS” markings, though current passports will remain valid until their scheduled expiration dates.

Interim President of Mali and AES chairman Assimi Goïta announced the implementation timeline, stating that “all necessary measures will be implemented to ensure the effective free movement of individuals and goods” within the alliance. The announcement follows months of diplomatic negotiations after the three nations jointly withdrew from ECOWAS last year.

The biometric passport program represents a key component of the three nations’ broader regional integration strategy. The new travel documents are designed to standardize identification systems and facilitate movement between AES member states while incorporating security features that help prevent document forgery and identity theft.

The transition to AES passports follows the formal establishment of the alliance’s confederation pact, which was created after the three Sahelian nations departed from ECOWAS despite regional and international efforts to maintain their membership in the larger economic bloc. This move marks a significant shift in West African border control systems, as the new alliance develops its own standards for travel documentation and identity verification separate from the ECOWAS framework that has governed regional movement for decades.

Sources: Business Insider Africa, Big News Network, Travel And Tour World

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January 24, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team