- Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger introduce a 0.5% tax on imports from ECOWAS nations, including Nigeria
- The levy aims to finance the activities of the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), the three-nation economic and security union
- The move disrupts ECOWAS's regional trade agreements, creating a divide between the Sahel states and countries like Nigeria and Ghana
The military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have imposed a 0.5 percent levy on imported goods from Nigeria and other Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member nations.
The decision, announced in an official statement signed by the three states, aims to fund their newly established economic and security alliance.
According to the statement, the levy was agreed upon last Friday, March 28, and took immediate effect. It applies to all imported goods except humanitarian aid.
The funds generated will support the activities of the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), the new three-state bloc formed after their departure from ECOWAS.
This move effectively disrupts free trade across West Africa, which has historically operated under ECOWAS's framework.
It also underscores the growing divide between these Sahelian states and key democratic nations in the region, such as Nigeria and Ghana.
The three countries, all governed by military juntas that seized power through coups in 2023, originally established the ASS as a security pact.
However, their collaboration has since expanded into economic integration, with ambitions that include a shared biometric passport system and deeper financial cooperation.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger exited ECOWAS last year, arguing that the bloc had failed to provide adequate support in combating Islamist insurgencies and addressing security challenges within their borders.
Their withdrawal prompted ECOWAS, under the leadership of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, to impose economic, political, and financial sanctions in an attempt to pressure them into restoring constitutional governance.
These measures, however, have had little success in reversing their stance.
Despite diplomatic efforts by ECOWAS leaders, including Ghanaian President John Mahama’s recent visit to Abuja to discuss reconciliation, the three nations remain firm in their decision to stay outside the bloc.
Their resistance signals a continued geopolitical shift in West Africa, with the Sahelian alliance forging a separate path in regional politics and economic policy.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially withdraw from ECOWAS
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially severed ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), marking a significant shift in the region’s political and economic landscape.
The three junta-led nations formally exited the regional bloc on Wednesday, January 29, following prolonged diplomatic tensions that have strained relations for over a year.