Burkina Faso has introduced new biometric passports that do not feature the logo of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on their covers, further indicating the country's intent to distance itself from the regional bloc following a military coup that brought the current leaders to power.

In January, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali—three neighboring nations now governed by military juntas—announced their collective decision to exit the 15-member ECOWAS, which has since attempted to persuade them to reconsider this choice.

"These passports do not display the ECOWAS logo, nor do they reference ECOWAS in any way. Since January, Burkina Faso has made the decision to withdraw from this organization, and this launch reflects that decision," stated security minister Mahamadou Sana during the unveiling on Tuesday.

ECOWAS has cautioned that the withdrawal of these three nations could jeopardize the freedom of movement and the common market for the 400 million individuals residing within the 50-year-old bloc.

This exit occurs as their military forces confront groups affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State, whose insurgencies have destabilized the central Sahel region of West Africa over the past decade and pose a risk of spreading to coastal nations.

Following a series of coups between 2020 and 2023, these three countries have established a defense and cooperation agreement known as the Alliance of Sahel States and have severed long-standing military and diplomatic relationships with Western nations, opting instead for closer ties with Russia.