Niger Begins Rollout of Biometric Passport

Niger has begun national biometric enrolment for the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) passport, extending the bloc’s common travel-document programme across its three members, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

The enrolment drive was formally launched in Niamey on 15 September by Abdoul Kader Garba Moussa, Deputy Secretary General of Niger’s Ministry of the Interior. According to the Agence Nigérienne de Presse, enrolment is initially centred in the capital, with equipment to be deployed progressively to regional centres and diplomatic missions. Authorities also plan online pre-enrolment and electronic payment options through Amana, Nita and Airtel Money[1].

The passport forms part of the AES programme to harmonise identity and travel credentials following the three states’ withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).