The authorities of Burkina Faso have put into circulation biometric cards, developed as a unified identity document for citizens of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This was announced in a press release from the office of the President of Burkina Faso following the Council of Ministers meeting on November 6.
Any citizen of Burkina Faso over the age of five can now obtain a biometric identity card. The card is valid for 10 years. It is planned that within the next 5 years, the biometric passports developed by the Alliance in 2024 and this card will completely replace the previous civil passports.
"The introduction of the AES biometric identity card aims to provide our country with a reliable and secure identity document that meets common and international standards, while simultaneously facilitating citizens' access to essential social services," the statement reads.
At the end of October, the production of AES biometric passports resumed in Mali.
In August, Burkina Faso's National Identification Office (ONI) reported the issuance of 102,000 AES passports since September 2024. The AES Confederation passports have replaced ECOWAS passports in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The introduction of the new passports was first announced by Mali's transitional President and AES Chairman Assimi Goïta in September 2024. According to him, the biometric document will help standardize travel documents and facilitate the mobility of citizens from the "Sahel trio" worldwide.
Anna Bespalova
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