Burkina Faso has made a significant move to affirm its exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by unveiling new biometric passports that no longer feature the bloc’s logo on their covers.
This step follows the military coup that brought the current government to power and highlights Burkina Faso’s intent to distance itself from the 15-nation regional group.
“There’s no ECOWAS logo or reference to the organization on this passport. Since January, Burkina Faso has chosen to withdraw from ECOWAS, and this is simply the materialization of that decision,” said security minister Mahamadou Sana during the launch on Tuesday.
ECOWAS has cautioned that the potential departure of Burkina Faso, along with Niger and Mali, could have serious repercussions, affecting both the freedom of movement and the integrity of the common market that has served the 400 million people within the organization for five decades.
This shift comes amid rising tensions, as these nations face increasing threats from insurgent groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.