Since Monday, May 19, 2025, Lomé, the capital of Togo, has been hosting a meeting of executives from tax and customs administrations in the WAEMU (West African Economic and Monetary Union) region. Organized by the Union Commission, the meeting aims to provide state agencies in member countries with the tools necessary to manage tax risks within the mining sector.
Over the course of the week (until May 23), participants will enhance their skills in areas such as tax fraud, evasion, and optimization practices, as well as commercial misinvoicing within the sector. The program will also facilitate the sharing of practical strategies and tools for effective case diagnosis.
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The objective is twofold: to contribute to strengthening the tax base of WAEMU countries and to improve synergy between tax and customs administrations, especially given the increasing efforts of mining operators.
“Despite the efforts of member states, significant challenges remain in the fight against tax avoidance in the mining sector,” stated Essokiza Anakpa, Director General of Budget and Finance and Permanent Secretary of the ECOWAS-UEMOA unit, who opened the meeting on behalf of the Togolese Minister of Economy and Finance.
According to data from the WAEMU Commission, tax and non-tax revenues generated by the mining sector constitute a significant portion of state budgets. In 2023, they accounted for 27.8% of the budget in Mali and 9.40% in Senegal. In Togo, where the mining sector’s contribution to GDP remains low, they stood at nearly 2% in 2022.
