West African breakaway nations to launch common passport
The Alliance of Sahelian Nations (AES), a regional bloc that was founded last September by the military leaders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, has announced a plan to establish a common passport to strengthen cooperation and security between them.
The Alliance of Sahelian Nations (AES), a regional bloc that was founded last September by the military leaders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, has announced a plan to establish a common passport to strengthen cooperation and security between them.
The chairman of AES, who is also the president of Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, said in a televised speech that soon the union will launch a joint biometric passport that will also facilitate the mobility of citizens in the three countries .
He made the statement to celebrate one year since the formation of the Union of Sahel Nations on September 16 last year .
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formed the Union of Sahel States and announced the creation of a joint military force to face the security challenges posed by terrorist groups in their countries .
The three West African countries withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which had threatened military intervention in Niger following a military coup in the country in July last year .
The three countries, with a total of 72 million people, have been affected by instability caused by terrorist groups and insurgents.
In July this year, the leaders of the three countries held their first joint meeting in the capital of Niger, Niamey where they announced that the three countries will form a federation.
