Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are set to introduce a shared passport as part of their ongoing collaboration to bolster security and cooperation within the region.
The move comes a year after the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by the military leaders of these nations.
In a televised address, Col. Assimi Goita, the leader of Mali’s junta and chair of the AES, announced that the alliance would soon launch a biometric passport that would facilitate the movement of citizens across the three countries.
This initiative is intended to strengthen ties and address the security challenges posed by terrorist groups in the region.
The AES was established in response to the growing instability caused by militant groups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The alliance has already formed a joint military force to combat these threats and has withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which had threatened military intervention in Niger following a coup.
In addition to the common passport, the AES plans to launch a joint television station as part of its efforts to enhance regional integration and cooperation.
