The three-member nation Alliance of Sahel States (AES) made up of comprising military-led Mali, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso has slapped a 0.5 per cent import duty on goods from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member nations.
According to a March 29 statement signed by Mali’s military leader and AES president, General Assimi Goïta, the revenue from the tariff will be allocated to finance AES initiatives, including economic development, public infrastructure projects, and social support programs.
The statement said the tax will be collected by customs authorities in each country and deposited into a special AES account.
Some goods will be exempt, including products from within the bloc, humanitarian aid, diplomatic shipments, donations, and non-refundable subsidies are exempted from customs duty/
To ensure transparency, the funds will be subject to annual audits and financial reports.
Mali’s minister of economy and finance, Mr Alousséni Sanou, emphasised that the new tariff does not constitute an added burden on consumers.
“We have the ECOWAS community tax, which is uniformly applied. For Malian consumers, this tariff is merely a transfer and will not impact imports or the price of imported food,” Sanou said in a televised address.
The tax takes effect immediately, and any disputes will be handled through diplomatic channels.
However, the AES leaders may revise the rate in the future if necessary, the statement noted.
Recall that the three countries were members of ECOWAS untill January 29, 2025 when the formally withdrew from the regional economic bloc following a series of military coups and economic sanctions.
Despite their departure, they continue to benefit from some ECOWAS trade advantages, such as the free movement of goods and people, as they negotiate the terms of their separation.
The AES has also decided to maintain certain regional integration policies, allowing ECOWAS citizens to enter freely.
Nevertheless, the three countries remain heavily dependent on trade with the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and ECOWAS.
Key imports from these regions include food products, petroleum, industrial equipment, and consumer goods.
In late 2024, ECOWAS accounted for 22.6% of Mali’s imports, while WAEMU made up 21.8%.
In Burkina Faso, these figures stood at 31.3% and 22.4%, respectively, in the third quarter.
Niger, on the other hand, saw a sharp decline in trade due to ECOWAS and WAEMU sanctions following the July 26, 2023, coup, dealing a major blow to its economy and businesses.
The new AES tax marks another step toward financial self-sufficiency while strengthening economic ties among its members.
With agency reports
