In a move to fund their new three-state union, the military rulers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced a 0.5% levy on imported goods.
This decision was made after the three countries left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a larger regional economic bloc.
The Alliance of Sahel States, formed in 2023 as a security pact, has grown into an aspiring economic union with plans for biometric passports and closer economic and military ties.
The levy, which took effect immediately, will affect all goods imported from outside the three countries, excluding humanitarian aid.
This move marks a significant shift away from free trade across West Africa, highlighting the rift between the three Sahel states and influential democracies like Nigeria and Ghana to the south.
The three countries have been struggling with Islamist insurgents and insecurity, leading to the imposition of economic, political, and financial sanctions by ECOWAS.
