The President of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), Army General Assimi GOITA, announced this Thursday, January 23, 2025, in an official press release, the launch of the AES confederal passport, which will come into force from of January 29, 2025. This document, which will be put into circulation from January 29, 2025, embodies a major step forward in the framework of the roadmap of the organization, aiming to guarantee increased free movement of citizens within the Sahel-Sahel region. Current passports bearing the ECOWAS logo will remain valid until their expiry date, ensuring a smooth transition for holders.
According to the press release, to ensure a smooth transition, current passports bearing the ECOWAS logo will remain valid until their expiry date. However, AES citizens holding passports bearing the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) logo will be able to have them replaced with the new confederal passports, in accordance with established rules. This measure symbolizes a key step in asserting the sovereignty and regional integration of the AES, while ensuring a smooth transition for citizens.
President GOITA wanted to reassure the populations of the confederal area: “ All useful measures will be taken to guarantee the effectiveness of the free movement of people and goods. “. This declaration underlines the AES’s commitment to facilitating trade and travel within its borders, while consolidating its unity and internal cooperation.
The release of this unified passport marks a historic step for the AES, still young, but determined to build a strong identity. More than a simple document, this passport symbolizes a collective ambition: that of a united, resilient Confederation focused on the future.
This initiative is part of a global project to strengthen political, economic and security ties between Member States. It also responds to people’s aspirations for easier mobility and better regional integration.
Through this reform, the AES confirms its determination to become a key player in the region, while placing the well-being of its citizens at the heart of its action. The reception of this measure on the ground will be the next test of its success.
Abdoulkarim (actuniger.com)
World
