Nigeria, April 1 -- The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a recently established pact comprising three junta-led states - Mali, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso - has imposed a 0.5 per cent import duty on goods from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member nations.

In a joint statement last week, the AES said it aims to generate revenue to fund the alliance's activities.

The levy, which took effect last Friday, applies to all goods from ECOWAS member states entering any of the three nations, except for humanitarian aid.

This new policy counters ECOWAS's intention of ensuring free movement of goods between its members and the AES countries despite their official exit from the bloc in January.

ECOWAS had said goods an...