Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré has become the first head of state in the Alliance of Sahel States to receive the bloc’s newly launched regional identity card. The document was issued in Ouagadougou during an official ceremony marking the rollout of the AES identification system, according to Business Insider Africa.
The new card, which forms part of wider integration efforts between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, is designed to ease movement, strengthen security coordination, and enhance shared administrative processes across the three countries. Authorities said the launch represents a milestone in the alliance’s goal of deepening political and economic cooperation.
Speaking at the event, President Traoré described the initiative as a practical step toward regional self-determination. “This marks a new era of unity and sovereignty for our people,” he said, as reported by the national broadcaster.
Regional analysts noted that the AES identity card could pave the way for harmonized cross-border systems in trade, migration, and public services. Early policy assessments from Sahel institutions suggest that member states plan to transition their citizens to the new identification framework in phases over the coming year.
