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AES Moving Towards Implementing Community Visa

11:40, 2 February 2025

Ekaterina Shilova

Writer / Editor

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In late January 2024, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso announced a joint decision to withdraw as soon as possible from ECOWAS, which they said was "under the influence of foreign powers and has become a threat to the member states and their peoples." On January 29, the organization officially confirmed the withdrawal of the three countries.

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On February 1–2, experts from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) are meeting in Bamako, Mali, to discuss their visa policy.

After the launch of the AES common biometric passport on January 29, a community visa, called the "Liptako visa," should facilitate the entry of non-ECOWAS nationals into the three member countries, local media reported.

Sub-Saharan Africa

President of Burkina Faso Receives His AES Biometric Passport

31 January, 09:31

The conclusions reached by the experts after their meeting will need to be approved by the ministers responsible for security in the member countries of the alliance.