The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to assert sovereignty, but this move has disrupted the free movement of people and goods from these three nations. Travelers from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger now face significant administrative hurdles when crossing ECOWAS borders.

Documentation challenges hinder regional mobility

Citizens of the AES are encountering difficulties with essential travel documents, including passports, national IDs, and driver’s licenses. These issues have intensified since the withdrawal, as border authorities in ECOWAS member states often reject documents that lack specific formatting requirements.

Almou Yacouba, Secretary-General of the Niger Road Transport Union, shared firsthand experiences of these challenges. “We face problems with international vehicle registration certificates and international driver’s permits. The ECOWAS insurance requirement is particularly burdensome within the AES. Even with a Niger ID, authorities in Côte d’Ivoire, for example, may reject it because it lacks an expiration date, only showing the manufacturing date. Previously, ECOWAS IDs allowed travel, but now border officials demand them, creating major travel complications.”

Border corruption persists within AES

Despite government efforts to streamline cross-border movement, travelers and transporters still encounter extortion at border checkpoints. Chaibou Tchiombiano, Secretary-General of Niger’s Importers and Exporters Association, highlights ongoing issues. “We should have unrestricted movement of people and goods, but corruption remains a persistent problem.”

Tchiombiano emphasized the need for a unified AES passport to facilitate seamless travel within the alliance. “A single travel document would allow free movement across AES territory,” he stated.

Regional cooperation seeks solutions

To address these challenges, ministers from the AES countries convened in Niamey in December 2025. The meeting focused on restoring free movement within the alliance after their departure from ECOWAS.