Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have introduced a 0.5% levy on imported goods to support their newly formed three-state union, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Initially established as a security pact in 2023, the alliance is now evolving into a broader economic and political coalition. Plans are underway to introduce biometric passports and strengthen economic and military cooperation among the member states.
The newly imposed levy, which takes effect immediately, will exclude humanitarian aid and serve as a primary funding source for the bloc’s operations.
This move marks a significant shift away from decades of free trade under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
It also highlights the deepening divide between the Sahel nations each governed by military-led administrations and southern democratic countries such as Nigeria and Ghana.
Source: Edyspromotions.com
