Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have imposed a 0.5% tariff on goods imported from countries outside the Sahel State Alliance (AES).
In January, three Sahel countries announced that they had withdrawn from the regional agency – the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to influence the Ecowas to form the AES.
Despite their departure, they will temporarily retain opportunities to obtain Ecowas privileges, such as free flow of people and goods, until the separation clause is completed through ongoing negotiations.
In addition, AES has implemented a joint program that targets goods imported from non-member states and countries without agreements related to the alliance.
According to a document signed by Mali military leader and AES President Apsimi Goïta, the revenue from the tariff will be distributed to the AES initiatives, including economic development, public infrastructure projects and social support programs.
Importantly, goods in transit, aid, donations and non-refundable subsidies are exempt from tariffs. Mali’s Minister of Economy and Finance Arousséni Sanou stressed that the new tariffs do not constitute an additional burden on consumers.
“We have an evenly applied Ecowas community tax,” Sanou explained in a televised speech. “For Malian consumers, this tariff is just a transfer and does not affect the price of imported or imported food.”
The military-led governments of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso seized power through a coup between 2020 and 2023, saying they were committed to pursuing independence policies.
