Côte d’Ivoire’s customs administration has announced the immediate elimination of visa requirements previously imposed by customs officials in Mali and Burkina Faso on export declarations, aiming to simplify trade processes and speed up cargo movement to inland West African markets.
In a circular dated March 31, 2026, the Director General of Customs, General Da Pierre A., explained that the move follows the rollout of digital transit systems that now provide secure and transparent tracking of goods heading to Mali and Burkina Faso.
The directive, shared broadly with customs offices and trade stakeholders, officially removes a long-standing administrative rule that required approval from foreign customs authorities before goods could be cleared for transit.
Initially introduced to strengthen oversight and improve trade data accuracy, the requirement had increasingly been seen as a hindrance as cargo volumes through Abidjan’s ports continued to rise.
Digital systems replace legacy controls
Officials stated that the reform is based on the successful deployment of the T1 Transit Management Module with Mali and the Interconnected Transit Goods Management System (SIGMAT) with Burkina Faso.
These digital platforms allow real-time exchange of customs information, ensuring continuous, secure, and transparent monitoring of goods without the need for manual validation.
The change also comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in West Africa, particularly after Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States following their exit from ECOWAS.
The AES bloc has committed to removing trade barriers among its members and reducing dependence on coastal intermediaries, including plans to eliminate what it describes as restrictive controls on the movement of goods within the Sahel.
However, despite these goals, landlocked AES countries still rely heavily on coastal routes especially through Côte d’Ivoire for access to international markets.
Abidjan’s decision can therefore be viewed as both a practical economic move and a strategic effort to maintain its position as a major transit hub amid evolving regional trade patterns.
With the visa requirement scrapped, licensed customs agents can now submit declarations directly to the appropriate Ivorian customs offices, a change expected to reduce delays and enhance trade efficiency.
The policy reflects Côte d’Ivoire’s broader efforts to modernise its logistics systems while adjusting to a rapidly changing regional trade environment.