In a bold move to enhance regional integration, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are launching a common biometric passport, marking a key step in solidifying their newly formed alliance. The announcement was made by Mali’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, who explained that the passport would facilitate free movement for citizens across the three nations, improving regional mobility and connectivity.

Goita also revealed plans for establishing infrastructure to further integrate the countries and create a unified information-sharing channel. The biometric passport initiative coincides with the first anniversary of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which was created after the countries collectively withdrew from ECOWAS, accusing the bloc of aligning too closely with Western powers, particularly France.

Since forming the alliance, the Sahel states have shifted their international allegiances, growing closer to Russia, whose mercenaries are aiding their armies in the fight against Islamist insurgencies that have plagued the region for over a decade