The Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) took another major step in its formation by unveiling its official flag in Bamako, Mali.
The ceremony, held Monday, February 24, was chaired by Major General Abdoulaye Maïga, Mali’s Prime Minister and Head of Government, alongside other CSS ministers.
The new alliance is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic as founding members. The group members officially jettisoned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 29, 2024.
Since then, they have moved quickly to establish their independent economic and security framework.
The flag is rectangular with a green background and the CSS logo. According to officials, the green symbolizes growth, hope, prosperity, and the region’s vast natural resources.
A Growing Regional Alliance
This unveiling comes as CSS strengthens its cooperation in security, economic development, and governance.
In a significant step toward regional integration, CSS recently introduced its own regional passport. A statement from the CSS presidency confirmed that the new passports began circulating on January 29, 2025. However, citizens can still use their ECOWAS passports until they expire to ensure a smooth transition.
Beyond travel facilitation, CSS is also working on boosting economic development. During a ministerial meeting in Bamako on January 16, 2025, leaders announced plans to establish a Regional Investment Bank. This bank will fund transformative infrastructure projects across CSS member states.
Discussions leading up to this decision were held by regional experts on January 14 and 15.
The CSS leadership emphasizes that these developments mark a new era of self-sufficiency and regional stability. While challenges remain, the bloc is determined to chart its own course toward economic and political independence.
It had accused ECOWAS of now being puppets of neo-colonial forces from the West, and have tended to pivot is diplomatic, economic and military cooperation towards Russia and China.
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 has unveiled its official flag, launched a regional passport, and announced a new investment bank to boost development. Read more about CSS’s latest steps toward regional unity.){kind=link}