September 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger will soon introduce a biometric passport as part of their decision to strengthen ties within the framework of the Alliance of Sahel States (EAS), created in September 2023 following their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Malian junta leader Assimi Goita said the three countries would also launch an investment bank to support economic integration and a common information chain, as well as cultural and educational initiatives to increase cohesion in the Sahel.
Goita, who is currently president of the ESA, also said in a speech that the bloc is open to cooperation agreements with countries or entities that “respect the sovereignty” of these three countries, according to the Malian news portal Maliweb.
He also reiterated the determination of these three countries to continue the fight against terrorism and called for “concretising” the vision of the ESA member countries through “concrete projects” that will promote the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to work towards regional integration.
The ESA was created on September 16, 2023, with the stated aim of “creating an architecture of collective defense and mutual support” among the signatories, amid rising attacks by jihadist groups, including branches of Al Qaeda and Islamic State in the Sahel.
The bloc emerged after the decision of these three countries to leave ECOWAS due to its sanctions and threat of military intervention following the coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger between 2020 and 2023, in addition to being part of their progressive distancing from their former colonial power, France.
Add Comment