Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso plan to form one country
By Samuel Ogunsona reporting from Dubai
The three revolutionary countries in West Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are considering merginf into one country, Irohinoodua has been informed.
Officials of the three countries who spoke to our correspondent unofficially in Dubai confirmed the move.
Also at the weekend, the Foreign Ministers of the three countries announced the intention of the three countries to fuse into on big Federation, expected to transform each country to a Federation that will be one of the largest in West Africa.
The Governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger made the recommendation of a confederation as part of a strategic plan of resisting French colonialism and uniting their people under revolutionary banners.
With the new move, the Federation will be about 70million people, and will be the third most populated country in Africa after Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa.
The countries said the Federation remains one of the long-term goal of uniting the West African neighbours within a federation.
The Governments and their officials from the Alliance of Sahel States met in Bamako for two days discussing the formality.
Sources told Irohinoodua that the officials are already working out the details which involves creating a synergy that will united the three countries in the areas of diplomacy, defence and development “to consolidate political and economic integration”.
Speaking on the issue, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said the recommendations will be submitted to each head of state
The leaders of the three countries are expected to meet in Bamako at an unspecified date.
Earlier in November, The country’s Ministers of Finance had proposed a stabilisation fund for the three countries.
They also proposed a Development Bank to engineer creative industry in the region while there had been proposal for a common monetary union.
In mid-September, the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a mutual defence pact.
