Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are preparing to introduce new biometric passports, as announced by Mali’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita. The three Sahel nations, all currently under military rule, formed the Alliance of Sahel States last September after breaking away from ECOWAS and shifting towards closer ties with Russia, following a series of coups since 2020.
In a televised address, Goita stated that a new biometric passport for the Alliance of Sahel States will soon be launched to standardize travel documents within their shared region. The trio, united in the face of jihadist violence that originated in northern Mali in 2012 and spread to Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015, are focused on enhancing infrastructure to strengthen connectivity through transportation, communication networks, and information technology.
The announcement precedes the one-year anniversary of the alliance’s establishment, highlighting their commitment to collaboration amidst ongoing challenges posed by regional unrest and violence.