Burkina Faso: Ibrahim Traoré Meets with Customs Officials from the AES and Togo

The President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, received a delegation of customs directors-general from the member countries of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) and Togo in an audience on Friday, October 16, 2026, in Ouagadougou. The focus of the discussions was on strengthening customs cooperation and facilitating trade.

Led by Fatoumata Bako/Traoré, Minister Delegate for the Budget, the delegation came to present to the Head of State the conclusions of the meeting of customs officials held on October 15, 2026, in the Burkinabé capital.

Discussions focused in particular on following up on the recommendations from the previous meeting in Bamako, finalizing the draft text on the creation of a customs union, and establishing procedures for certifying and recognizing the confederal origin of goods.

According to Niger’s Director General of Customs, Colonel Mohamed Yacouba Sido, the participants also reviewed the progress made in interconnecting customs information systems between the AES countries and Togo.

On this occasion, President Ibrahim Traoré called on customs administrations to accelerate the implementation of mechanisms designed to facilitate trade between the member states.

For his part, Colonel Konzi Teï, Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes at the Togolese Revenue Office, welcomed the Head of State’s directives, particularly regarding customs cooperation and strengthening the role of customs in stabilizing the economy.

This meeting reflects the commitment of the AES countries and Togo to continue their economic integration through better coordination of their customs administrations.