Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have imposed a 0.5% levy on imports from Nigeria and other ECOWAS nations to help finance their newly formed three-nation union.
According to an official statement, the levy, agreed upon last Friday, takes effect immediately and applies to all imports except humanitarian aid. The funds will support the activities of the emerging economic bloc, though specific details were not disclosed.
This decision effectively ends free trade across West Africa, highlighting the growing rift between the three Sahel nations and the more dominant democracies of Nigeria and Ghana. The countries, all led by military juntas following coups in 2023, initially formed the Alliance of Sahel States as a security pact after exiting ECOWAS. Over time, this alliance has expanded into an economic union aiming to enhance military and financial cooperation, including plans for biometric passports.
Their departure from ECOWAS was driven by dissatisfaction with the bloc’s response to Islamist insurgencies and domestic instability. In retaliation, ECOWAS imposed economic and political sanctions to push for a return to civilian rule, but these measures have had limited success.
