Latest news with #ECOWASTradeLiberalizationScheme
Business Insider
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Sahel nations unite under new agricultural seed alliance to strengthen food security
The alliance of Sahel states have officially launched the Alliance of Agricultural Seed Producers of the Sahel (APSA-Sahel), a regional initiative aimed at achieving seed sovereignty and bolstering food security across the Sahel. The APSA-Sahel initiative was launched by the Sahel states Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The alliance aims to promote locally adapted seed systems and reduce dependency on foreign imports. The establishment of APSA-Sahel indicates a shift toward greater economic independence within the Alliance of Sahel States. The AES - Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have come together to create the Alliance of Agricultural Seed Producers of the Sahel (APSA-Sahel), with the aim of strengthening regional food sovereignty and promoting locally adapted seed systems tailored to the Sahel's unique climate and agricultural challenges. The announcement was made by Burkina Faso's Minister of Agriculture, Denis Ouédraogo, signaling a unified commitment by the three countries to reclaim control over their agricultural systems amid mounting climate, economic, and geopolitical pressures. The APSA-Sahel initiative is designed to reduce the region's heavy dependence on foreign seed imports, promote indigenous seed varieties, and enhance cooperation in seed research, production, and distribution. By pooling resources, knowledge, and infrastructure, the alliance seeks to empower local farmers with access to high-quality, climate-resilient seeds suited to the region's arid conditions. According to Sputnik Africa, the alliance hopes to strengthen their agricultural output through three major means. First, they aim to cultivate and market quality seeds that are adapted to the region's climate. Second, they intend to facilitate the free circulation of these seeds across member states. Lastly, the initiative is designed to strengthen food sovereignty within the region. Sahel states seek economic independence Since their breakaway from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Sahel states - Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, have pursued a deliberate path toward economic independence, enacting a series of coordinated policies aimed at fostering deeper integration within their own Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This strategic shift reflects both a rejection of what they view as ECOWAS's political overreach and an aspiration to build a more self-reliant and internally focused economic bloc. One of the most symbolic steps in this direction is the creation of a common AES passport, designed to facilitate the free movement of people, goods, and services within the bloc. This move effectively replaces the ECOWAS travel document and signals the trio's commitment to regional mobility on their own terms. The common passport also reinforces the idea of shared identity and sovereignty, while simplifying cross-border trade for citizens of the three countries. In parallel, the AES states have formally withdrawn from the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS), which had previously allowed tariff-free movement of goods across West Africa. Their withdrawal represents a decisive break from ECOWAS's economic framework and opens the way for the creation of a new intra-AES trade regime.
Zawya
20-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) task force embarks on advocacy mission to the Gambia and Senegal
In fulfillment of his mandate to promote regional trade integration, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) Task Force, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas led a high-level delegation to The Gambia and Senegal from 9 to 15 March 2025. The mission aimed to identify and mitigate obstacles that hinder intra-community trade between ECOWAS Member States. The delegation held strategic meetings with high-level political authorities, including ministers and heads of customs agencies, in order to assess the measures in place to facilitate the free movement of goods and people. At the same time, it held consultations with representatives of the private sector, aiming to understand their concerns and integrate their contributions into the process of strengthening regional trade. As part of the mission, the delegation made a field visit to the Banjul-Farafenni corridor, which crosses the Senegambia Bridge, an essential infrastructure for regional connectivity. During the discussions, critical issues related to trade transit were identified, including the difficulties faced by Gambia's ETLS-approved products in accessing the Senegalese market and the challenges posed by restrictions and harassment at the border between the two countries. In response, Dr. Chambas praised the spirit of cooperation and fraternity that characterizes relations between The Gambia and Senegal, reflected in the regular meetings of the Gambia-Senegal Joint Commission. He stressed the need to strengthen dialogue and implement concrete solutions, urging both sides to accelerate the automation of border customs posts and operationalize the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) in order to streamline and strengthen the efficiency of trade flow between the two states. Additionally, Dr. Chambas recommended the establishment of an instant alert mechanism to promptly address trade disruptions, enabling a coordinated and effective response between road operators and competent authorities. The mission culminated with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the ETLS Task Force and the authorities of The Gambia and Senegal, representing a significant step forward in the consolidation of regional trade integration in the ECOWAS space. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
