The member states of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—have agreed to harmonize travel and identity documents across their confederation.
This follows the recent introduction of a common biometric passport and the upcoming launch of a shared AES biometric identity card. The move, formalized after a cabinet meeting in Mali, aims to ensure the free movement of people despite the region’s security challenges.
Technical specifications were validated by security ministers in Bamako in November 2024, and official decisions establishing the AES e-passport and biometric ID card were signed in April 2025.
The AES was formed after the three nations experienced military takeovers and severed ties with France and ECOWAS.
The bloc, now officially withdrawn from ECOWAS since January 29, has focused on regional self-reliance through initiatives like a 5,000-strong joint anti-terrorism force, a Confederal Bank for Investment and Development (BCID AES), and new international alliances, particularly with Russia.
