West African juntas impose levy on imported goods

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced a new 0.5% levy on imports. This decision aims to fund a new three-state union. The announcement was made in a statement.

The Alliance of Sahel States began in 2023. It started as a security pact among the military rulers of these countries. All three nations took power through coups in recent years. The alliance has since evolved into an economic union with plans for biometric passports and closer ties.

The new levy was agreed upon on Friday and takes effect immediately. It will apply to all goods imported from outside the three countries. However, humanitarian aid is exempt from this levy. The statement mentioned that the funds would "finance the activities" of the bloc but did not provide further details.

This move ends free trade across West Africa. For decades, states have operated under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It highlights the growing divide between these three nations and influential democracies like Nigeria and Ghana.

Last year, the juntas announced plans to leave ECOWAS. They accused the bloc of failing to help them fight Islamist insurgents and restore security.

In response, ECOWAS imposed economic, political, and financial sanctions on them. These measures aimed to encourage a return to constitutional order but had little effect.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are among the poorest countries globally. Over the past decade, they have faced an armed Islamist insurgency. Violence from groups linked to al Qaeda and ISIS has killed thousands and displaced millions.

This situation has eroded trust in democratically elected governments that initially struggled to contain it.