The military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have implemented a 0.5% levy on imported goods, a significant move aimed at financing their newly formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The measure, announced in a joint statement, takes immediate effect and applies to all imports except humanitarian aid.
This new tariff, which also extends to goods from other ECOWAS member states, follows the trio’s recent departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The revenue generated will be used to support the AES, which was initially established as a security alliance in 2023 but has since expanded its scope to include economic and political integration.
The levy marks a notable disruption to the region’s long-standing free trade framework, deepening the divide between the military regimes of the Sahel and democratically governed West African nations such as Nigeria and Ghana. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have accused ECOWAS of failing to provide adequate support in their battle against Islamist insurgents, a key factor behind their decision to exit the bloc despite economic sanctions imposed to pressure them into restoring civilian rule.
These three Sahel nations, among the world’s poorest, have grappled with a persistent insurgency led by al-Qaeda and Islamic State-affiliated militants for nearly a decade. The ongoing violence has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, and fueled public frustration over the governments’ struggle to restore stability.
By introducing the import levy, the Sahel nations are taking a decisive step toward political and financial self-reliance. They are also advancing plans for biometric passports, reinforcing their commitment to deeper regional integration and greater autonomy from ECOWAS.
As tensions between the AES and ECOWAS escalate, the economic and geopolitical ramifications of this move will likely be felt across West Africa. The Sahel nations’ push for self-sufficiency underscores their determination to carve out an independent path, challenging the existing regional order and reshaping the future of West African cooperation.
