Mali’s foreign minister has been appointed to lead exit talks with the West African regional grouping ECOWAS, which is maintaining free movement of people and goods for the three departing states.
It comes as the regional organisation formalised the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger on Wednesday.
Diop’s appointment came during the ministerial meeting of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) on January 26 in Ouagadougou. The three ministers agreed to adopt a common approach in their talks with ECOWAS, prioritising the safeguarding of their populations’ interests.
In a spirit of “regional solidarity,” the regional organisation announced on Wednesday that it would maintain several fundamental rights for citizens of the three departing states.
ECOWAS passports and identity cards will remain valid, guaranteeing free movement, the right of residence and establishment without a visa within the community. This decision echoes the AES announcement last December regarding the opening of its borders to West African nationals.
Preferential treatment for goods and services will also be maintained in accordance with the Trade Liberalisation Scheme. A special structure will be set up by ECOWAS to facilitate future discussions, in which the Malian foreign minister is now expected to play a central role on behalf of the AES.
The three countries, led by military regimes, announced their joint withdrawal from ECOWAS on January 28, 2024, denouncing its “ineffectiveness”.
The AES has also announced the issuance of its own biometric passports, inaugurated on Wednesday by Burkinabe President Ibrahim Traoré and his Prime Minister, Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo.
AC/sf/lb/as/APA