Junta-led West African states to launch new passport
The head of head of Niger's military government General Abdourahamane Tiani (R) and Malian Colonel Assimi Goita (L) pose for a photo as they arrive ahead of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) summit in Niamey on July 6, 2024. Mali's leader, Col Assimi Goïta (L) and his Nigerien counterpart Gen Abdourahamane Tiani (R) pictured in July when they met, along with Burkina Faso's leader, in July Three West African countries run by military juntas will be launching a new biometric passports “in the coming days” as part of their withdrawal from the wider regional bloc Ecowas. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, whose military leaders took over power in series of coups between 2020 and 2023, announced their plan to leave the bloc in January. Following the coups, West African countries sanctioned the juntas, aiming to push them to quickly restore civilian rule. But the three nations that now form the Alliance of Sahel States have so far resisted the calls, opting to cement...