Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger: AES common customs levy stays in force
Since late March 2025, and still as of 27 September 2026, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger apply a common customs levy of 0.5% on goods imported from countries outside their alliance. This levy is added on top of existing national customs duties and funds the operations of their confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
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In late March 2025, the three Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which formally left ECOWAS on 29 January 2025, introduced a common customs levy of 0.5% on imports from countries outside the AES. A follow-up article published on 21 July 2026 confirms that this levy remains in force and constitutes the confederation's first autonomous source of revenue.
The levy is added on top of the ECOWAS common external tariff that the three countries had until then continued to apply de facto, and also covers goods from other ECOWAS countries, now reclassified as third countries since their exit from the regional bloc. Goods in transit and non-repayable aid are not affected, according to the initial announcements.
The measure took effect in late March 2025 and has not been changed since, based on information available as of 27 September 2026; ongoing work for 2026 focuses mainly on the confederal bank and the AES common passport, not on any change to the levy rate.
All importers shipping goods to Bamako, Ouagadougou or Niamey are affected, as are freight forwarders handling transit through regional ports, Lomé, Cotonou, Abidjan or Dakar, before onward road transport to these landlocked countries.
What it changes for an importer
For an importer bringing goods from China into Mali, Burkina Faso or Niger, this 0.5% levy adds to the landed cost calculation and must be budgeted for on top of the usual customs duties and taxes. Sorva includes this line in the cost simulations it prepares for clients sourcing into these three countries, without ever standing in for the local freight forwarder or customs broker, who remains responsible for the declaration.
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West and Central Africa Mandatory pre-shipment inspection
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Several West and Central African countries require a pre-shipment inspection by a government-appointed body, such as Bureau Veritas (BIVAC), Cotecna or SGS depending on the country, which issues the certificate required for customs clearance.
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