The military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced the introduction of a common travel passport, marking a significant step in their plans to exit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The new passports, issued under the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), will officially come into circulation on January 29, the day their withdrawal from ECOWAS becomes effective.The AES, formed in 2023 following a series of military takeovers in the three nations between 2020 and 2023, represents a unified front in their shared struggles. These countries, grappling with years of jihadist violence, have accused ECOWAS of failing to provide adequate support and being overly influenced by France, the region’s former colonial power. Their decision to leave the bloc was first announced on January 28, 2024, but ECOWAS regulations required a one-year notice before the withdrawal could take full effect.