The military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced a 0.5% import levy on goods entering their countries from Nigeria and other ECOWAS member states.

According to an official statement from the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), the tax is aimed at funding the activities of their new regional bloc, following their exit from ECOWAS.

“This levy will apply to all imported goods except humanitarian aid and will serve to finance the activities of our union,” the statement noted.

Growing Divide Between the Sahel and ECOWAS

For decades, ECOWAS facilitated free trade among West African nations, but this latest move marks a widening rift between the three Sahelian nations and economic powerhouses like Nigeria and Ghana.

Originally established as a security alliance, the ASS bloc has expanded into a political and economic entity, unveiling plans for military and financial cooperation, including a common biometric passport.

ECOWAS-Sahel Fallout and Rising Tensions

The juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger seized power in separate 2023 coups, citing insecurity and Islamist insurgencies as reasons for their actions. Their subsequent withdrawal from ECOWAS was a protest against the regional bloc’s perceived failure to support their security challenges.

In response, ECOWAS imposed sanctions to pressure the three nations into returning to democratic governance, but the Sahel leaders have remained defiant.

Nigeria and Ghana’s Diplomatic Efforts Hit a Deadlock

Diplomatic efforts led by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to reintegrate the Sahel nations have so far failed. Last week, Ghana’s President John Mahama informed Tinubu in Abuja that reconciliation talks had yielded no progress.

With the new 0.5% import levy in effect, trade relations between the Sahel states and ECOWAS nations could be significantly impacted, escalating tensions and potentially reshaping economic alliances in West Africa.

Source: The Bureau Newspaper
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