The Directors General of Customs from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)-Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger-met in Bamako on October 2, 2025, alongside a delegation from Togo, to strengthen regional customs cooperation and facilitate cross-border trade.
The session, chaired by Mali’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Alousséni Sanou, aimed to build on recommendations drafted during a two-day technical experts’ meeting. The central outcome was the decision to implement the interconnection of customs IT systems, a move designed to streamline trade procedures significantly.
Officials anticipate that this digitalization effort will cut goods processing times by and reduce logistics costs by , directly boosting intra-regional trade. In 2024, trade among AES member states grew by , reaching billion USD.
Minister Sanou emphasized that enhanced cooperation is also crucial for curbing fraud and smuggling, which continue to undermine national economies. This meeting is part of a broader push to modernize customs services and strengthen border security across the region.
MD/Sf/lb/abj/APA