West African military governments impose 0.5% tariff on imports from Nigeria and other ECOWAS states

According to an official statement, the levy was agreed upon last Friday and has already taken effect.

The measure aims to generate funds for their newly formed three-nation union, following their departure from ECOWAS.

It will affect all goods imported from outside the three countries but will not include humanitarian aid, the statement said.

It will “finance the activities” of the bloc, it said, without giving details.

This decision marks the end of unrestricted trade within West Africa, where ECOWAS has long facilitated regional economic cooperation.

It also underscores the growing divide between the Sahelian states and the more influential democracies to the south, such as Nigeria and Ghana.

The three nations, currently governed by military regimes that took power through coups in 2023, had previously formed the Alliance of Sahel States as a security coalition.

Over time, this alliance expanded into an economic partnership, with plans for military and financial integration, including the introduction of biometric passports.

Last year, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger exited ECOWAS, arguing that the bloc had failed to adequately support their fight against Islamist insurgencies and internal security challenges.

In response, ECOWAS imposed economic and political sanctions in an attempt to pressure them into restoring civilian governance, but with little success.