Mali Hosts 16th WCO-WCA Regional Customs Intelligence Meeting

BAMAKO, MALI - Mali has once again demonstrated its assertive regional leadership by hosting the 16th Annual Meeting of National Liaison Officers from the World Customs Organization (WCO) offices responsible for intelligence in West and Central Africa. The five-day conference opened on Monday, November 3, 2025, in Bamako under the theme: “Fragile Borders and Optimizing Customs Revenue in the West and Central African WCO Region: Challenges and Prospects.”

The gathering brings together customs intelligence officials to strengthen cooperation and share data aimed at countering illicit trafficking, smuggling, commercial fraud, and terrorism financing - persistent threats undermining the region’s security and economic growth.

Colonel-Major Ahmadou Sanogo, Director of Intelligence and the Fight Against Fraud of Malian Customs, highlighted the central role of intelligence in border control. “Without effective collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence, no policy of control or fight against fraud can produce lasting results,” he said. He emphasized that African customs agencies are modernizing their systems through stronger human and technical capacities, open-source intelligence, and enhanced cross-border cooperation.

Echoing this, Ibrahim Njoya, Director of the Regional Liaison Office for Central Africa, praised the WCO’s framework that enables the collection, processing, and dissemination of high-quality customs intelligence to curb fraud and illegal trade across the region.

Representing the WCO Secretary-General, Ousmane Coundoul described this year’s theme as “undeniably relevant,” noting that customs administrations have a dual responsibility - to protect borders and to foster economic prosperity.

Inspector General Amadou Konaté, Director General of Malian Customs and Vice-President of the WCO West and Central Africa Region, acknowledged significant progress but stressed that challenges remain. “Despite numerous seizures of weapons, ammunition, drugs, and dual-use goods, much remains to be done,” he said.

Participants are expected to produce a set of recommendations to strengthen customs intelligence collaboration and enhance revenue collection across member states. The Bamako meeting underscores Mali’s commitment to regional security, good governance, and economic resilience - values that continue to shape its growing influence in West and Central Africa.