In Ouagadougou, a decisive page in sub-regional economic history has been written since October 12, 2026. The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), joined by its strategic partner Togo, is driving a historic shift to build a unified, modern customs area entirely in the service of the prosperity of the peoples.
Under the enlightened chairmanship of the Director General of Customs of Burkina Faso, Dr. Yves Kafando, experts are sealing an ambitious alliance that transcends mere administrative borders to realize the vision of the heads of state.
The time is no longer for half-measures or isolated approaches. Faced with contemporary security and economic challenges, the AES confederation is deploying an offensive strategy in which customs stands as the central lever of public authority.
The stakes are colossal: harmonize legislation, digitalize flows, and interconnect information systems to lock down the territory against fraud while easing legitimate trade.
The imminent introduction of a confederal preferential tariff regime marks the birth of an integrated Sahelian market stronger and more resilient.
The key involvement of the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) in this confederal dynamic reflects the pragmatism and political intelligence at work.
A vital starting point for transit operations toward the Sahel, Togo’s coastline is becoming the natural partner of an ultra-secure logistics chain.
By converging practices between the AES and Lomé, customs administrations are building an exemplary economic corridor where every strengthened control, every simplified procedure, and every secured revenue stream helps finance public policies and the nations’ regained sovereignty.
