Burkina Faso: Customs strengthens dialogue with NGOs for better enforcement of customs regulations
The General Directorate of Customs of Burkina Faso held a strategic meeting on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), associations, and foundations that are members of the Permanent Secretariat of NGOs (SPONG). This exchange session aimed to strengthen cooperation between the customs administration and development actors through a better understanding and application of specific customs regimes.
Opening the session, the Director General of Customs, Yves Kafando, a divisional inspector, emphasized the importance of this initiative as part of the refocusing of his institution’s missions. He stressed the need to build a partnership based on transparency, mutual trust, and a clearer understanding of the customs privileges granted to NGOs. “This dialogue is a key tool to ensure the smooth implementation of our mutual commitments”, he stated.
Recalling that the customs administration, under the authority of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, is responsible for enforcing customs and tax legislation, Yves Kafando highlighted the importance of closely monitoring the exemptions granted to NGOs. These privileges primarily concern the importation of goods and services intended for humanitarian and development activities. “Our challenge is to ensure fair and transparent management of these mechanisms, in order to optimize your performance in the field”, he added.
This meeting also forms part of the Customs Strategic Plan 2022–2026, which aims to strengthen institutional dialogue and improve communication with its partners. It will also serve as a platform to review the legal framework governing customs exemptions and tax waivers.
According to Alimatou Zongo, Director of Partnership with NGOs and Foundations, this interaction will help stakeholders better understand the regulations governing customs benefits. Two presentations were given, one on the scope of privileges granted to NGOs and another on the exemption granting procedure, in a spirit of reinforced and lasting collaboration.
