Alliance of Sahel States Imposes Trade Levy on ECOWAS Goods

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—now operating as the Alliance of Sahel States—have imposed a 0.5% levy on all goods imported from ECOWAS nations, including Nigeria. The move marks a significant shift away from decades of free trade under ECOWAS and aims to fund the three-member alliance’s growing economic and security ambitions. The levy excludes humanitarian aid and comes amid worsening ties with ECOWAS, which sanctioned the juntas over their refusal to return to democratic rule. With Nigeria being one of Niger’s top trading partners, the levy could disrupt West African trade flows and exacerbate regional divisions. Observers warn this could further erode ECOWAS’s relevance and complicate cross-border business across West Africa.

Source: Nairametrics