CSS Customs Chiefs Meet In Bamako To Advance Togo Port Interconnection

West Africa WeeklyOctober 1, 20251 Mins read72

From September 29 to October 3, Bamako will host a series of meetings aimed at advancing the interconnection of customs information systems between the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) and the Republic of Togo. The sessions will bring together experts from the steering committee and the Directors-General of Customs of the CSS, focusing on the technical and strategic aspects of integrating the region’s trade systems.

For the landlocked Sahelian countries, the success of this initiative rests heavily on Togo’s role as a maritime hub. Lomé’s port has become a vital lifeline for imports and exports to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, making the integration of customs procedures with Togo a crucial step in reducing delays, lowering costs, and securing trade routes. The interconnection project is expected to harmonise procedures and allow real-time tracking of goods from Lomé into the Sahel, strengthening transparency and boosting customs revenue.

The meetings in Bamako will assess progress on the pilot phases already tested along the Lomé–Bamako corridor and review the legal and technical frameworks needed for a full rollout. With maritime access largely dependent on Togo, the project has the potential to transform trade flows in the region and deepen economic cooperation between the AES and its coastal partners.

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