AES nations grapple with free movement challenges post-CEDEAO exit

The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO)—intended as a sovereignty move—has inadvertently restricted the movement of people and goods across the bloc. While the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) aims to strengthen regional cohesion, travelers and traders now face mounting bureaucratic hurdles at borders.

Broken travel documents: a growing frustration

Citizens of the three AES member states encounter persistent issues with essential travel documents. Passports, national identity cards and driver’s licenses issued in these countries are often denied recognition beyond the AES territory. Almou Yacouba, secretary-general of the Syndicat démocratique routier du Niger, highlights the daily struggles at CEDEAO checkpoints.

“We’re facing major problems with the international vehicle registration and international driver’s permit. The CEDEAO insurance requirement further complicates cross-border travel. Even within the AES space, if you hold a Nigerien ID card and travel to, say, Côte d’Ivoire, authorities may reject it for lacking an expiration date—despite the card being otherwise valid. Before our withdrawal from CEDEAO, regional IDs facilitated movement. Now, travelers are frequently turned away at borders due to missing paperwork. It’s a real headache.”

Corruption and bureaucracy: an ongoing crisis

Transporters and travelers continue to report extortion and arbitrary checks at borders, even among AES member states. Chaibou Tchiombiano, secretary-general of Nigerien importers and exporters, underscores the gap between policy and practice.

“We should have seamless movement of people and goods, but instead, we’re constantly met with obstacles.”

“Our hope is a unified AES passport that allows us to travel freely within the alliance’s territory.”

The lack of standardized documentation remains a critical barrier for citizens of the three nations, prompting Niamey to host a ministerial meeting in December 2025. Transport ministers from AES countries convened to address the free movement of people and goods—an issue intensified by their departure from CEDEAO.

Until solutions are implemented, the dream of regional integration remains elusive for millions of Sahelian citizens.