Three Sahel countries ruled by military juntas – Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger – have introduced a 0.5% levy on imported goods from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member-nations, including Nigeria.
The three countries, each ruled by military juntas that came to power through recent coups in 2023, had established the Alliance of Sahel States as a security agreement following their exit from ECOWAS bloc.
The levy, effective immediately, was intended to finance their newly formed three-state bloc following their collective departure from the broader ECOWAS.
Over time, this alliance evolved into an aspiring economic union with plans to promote deeper military and financial integration, including introducing biometric passports.
The newly imposed levy will apply to all goods imported outside the three countries, excluding humanitarian aid.
The official statement noted that the funds generated would “finance the activities” of the alliance but did not provide further specifics.
Last year, the three nations left ECOWAS, citing claims that the bloc had not sufficiently supported them in fighting Islamist insurgencies and addressing insecurity in their countries.
The three countries remained among the poorest in the world, grappling with widespread violence attributed to Islamist insurgencies linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
