https://x.com/african_stream/status/1858559884465242566
During the 19th edition of Burkina Faso’s Digital Week event that brought together technology-sector leaders and government officials during 12-15 November, Alliance of Sahel States (AES) ministers announced plans to end cell phone roaming charges across the three member states—Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—which successfully ousted Western-aligned leaders before forming the AES confederation.
The ministers urged telecom operators to implement free roaming by 31 December and encouraged them to promote user awareness. Additionally, a Nigerien minister highlighted the need for a fibre-optic network to improve connectivity and Internet access across the region.
This initiative marks a significant step toward the AES’s goals of unity and economic integration, facilitating mobility and business operations between member states. The move also supports regional cooperation, with potential long-term benefits like enhanced digital infrastructure and harmonised standards, ultimately strengthening regional and continental integration efforts.
They therefore undertake, according to the declaration, to “[…] collaborate actively and take the necessary technical and operational measures to make free roaming effective by 31 December 2024 at the latest.” […]
The statement ended with a reaffirmation of each party’s shared commitment to " work closely together to achieve this goal for the benefit of the citizens of the Sahel States Alliance ."
7th July 2024 : https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/junta-led-sahel-states-rule-out-return-west-african-economic-bloc-2024-07-06
In a communique issued after the summit, the countries said they had agreed to coordinate diplomatic actions, create an AES investment bank and stabilisation fund, and pool their resources to set up projects in strategic sectors including mining, energy and agriculture.
15th September 2024 : https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/mali-burkina-niger-launch-biometric-passports-under-new-alliance-2024-09-15
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will introduce new biometric passports […] without the ECOWAS logo.
(would have preferred if they weren’t at war though, them as well)
(and since i’m often seeing this accusation, here’s a reminder that Russia is “conquering” territories that were given foolishly since they thought Russia&Ukraine would stay together, and that voted against the n.a.t.o. and for Russia(, there’s also a consistent polarity of over 90% during the elections), they were going to be invaded by Ukraine and chose to fight alongside the russian “invaders” instead, as they did during the eight years that preceded under an economic blockade, nothing like Israel who is fighting against the approval of both the locals(Gaza) and the country(Palestine), and mostly against disarmed civilians, razing everything needlessly and torturing their hostages/prisoners. And Ukraine’s demilitarization wouldn’t have been deemed necessary without our efforts&billions to shift it westwards like the rest of eastern Europe)