The three countries, which form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), announced last January their withdrawal from ECOWAS, an organization currently bringing together 15 countries.
“The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) is a visa-free space for any national of member states” of ECOWAS, declared the Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop, in a press release read on television Malian public.
ECOWAS nationals “have the right to enter, move around, reside, establish themselves and leave the territory of the member states of the Confederation of Sahel States in compliance with the national texts in force,” adds the press release signed by the Malian head of state, General Assimi Goïta, president of the AES. In addition to this decision, the declaration underlines that private vehicles registered on the territory of an ECOWAS member state will be able to enter the territory of a member state of the Confederation in accordance with the texts in force.
The decision by the AES authorities comes on the eve of the summit of heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States scheduled for this Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria, on the situation of the countries in transition in West Africa.
On Friday, the foreign ministers of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States reaffirmed, in Niamey, the irreversible decision of the States of the Confederation to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ). Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced in January their desire to leave ECOWAS. According to the Commission's texts, the departure of the three countries becomes effective one year after its announcement.
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