Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Juntas Slammed Import Levy On ECOWAS Nations, Others To Fund New Alliance
The measure takes immediate effect and applies to all goods imported from outside the three nations, excluding humanitarian aid.
The military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have introduced a 0.5% levy on imported goods to finance their emerging three-state union, following their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
It will also affect imports from Nigeria and other ECOWAS nations.
The measure which was announced in a joint statement is to take immediate effect and applies to all goods imported from outside the three nations, excluding humanitarian aid.
The revenue according to the announcement will support the activities of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a bloc that started as a security pact in 2023 and has since expanded its ambitions toward economic integration.
This move formally disrupts free trade within the broader West African region and highlights the deepening divide between the junta-led Sahel nations and democracies such as Nigeria and Ghana.
CNBC reports that the three countries had accused ECOWAS of failing to aid them in their fight against Islamist insurgents and opted to exit the bloc, despite economic sanctions imposed to pressure them to restore civilian rule.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger despite staggering poverty among the world’s nations a decade-long insurgency by militant groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State are resolute in their stand against democracy seeing that close to 3 decades of democracy in some Africa countries has not lead the continent into safety and economic boom
The persistent violence has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, and fueled widespread disillusionment with democratic governance.
As the Sahel trio advances with plans for biometric passports and deeper military and economic ties, the newly introduced import levy marks a crucial step in their bid for financial and political independence.
Though analysts are concerned that lack of unity of purpose amongst African leaders and transfer and implementation of foreign policies without a critical consideration on African peculiarities will rather mar than make the continent.
