WATAF Council Meets in Mali to Boost Regional Tax Cooperation

Held under the theme “Strengthening Regional Tax Cooperation for Sustainable Development,” the meeting was hosted by Mali’s Directorate General of Taxes in collaboration with the WATAF Secretariat.

Opening the meeting, Mali’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Alousseni Sanou, underscored the growing importance of domestic resource mobilization in addressing development challenges facing African countries.

“The effective and sustainable mobilization of domestic resources is no longer simply a budgetary necessity; it is a strategic imperative for the development of our nations,” Sanou said.

He noted that financing public services, infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and economic transformation increasingly depends on countries’ ability to generate their own resources, placing tax administrations at the center of national development efforts.

Sanou further highlighted emerging challenges facing tax authorities, including digital transformation, e-commerce, taxation of the digital economy and cross-border financial flows.

“Faced with these challenges, no tax administration can act alone. Regional cooperation has become an absolute necessity,” he said.

WATAF Executive Secretary Jules Tapsoba thanked the Government of Mali for hosting the meeting and emphasized the need for tax administrations to adapt to changing economic realities.

“Today, more than ever, the effective mobilization of domestic resources remains a strategic priority for our States,” said Tapsoba.

“Faced with increasing demands for development financing, the digital transformation of economies, the internationalization of economic activities and tax compliance challenges, tax administrations must continuously adapt, innovate and strengthen their performance.”

Tapsoba revealed that WATAF currently has 15 member countries and is expected to welcome Mauritania as its 16th member during the forthcoming General Assembly.

WATAF Council Chairperson Talato Eliane Djiguemdé-Ouédraogo stressed the importance of strong tax institutions in supporting economic growth and national development.

“Our meeting today takes place in a context where tax administrations are being called upon to play an increasingly decisive role in financing the development of our States,” she said.

She described WATAF as an important platform for cooperation and collective action among member countries.

“Beyond our borders and differences in national contexts, we are united by a common conviction: strong, modern and efficient tax administrations constitute one of the foundations of our States’ economic sovereignty,” she added.

During the meeting, Council members reviewed the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, considered the 2025 External Audit Report, examined first-quarter 2026 activity and budget reports, and discussed revisions to the WATAF Agreement and Procedures Manual.

Participants also explored initiatives aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, improving institutional effectiveness and preparing tax administrations to address emerging challenges across West Africa.

The Council further discussed preparations for WATAF’s 15th Anniversary celebrations and General Assembly, scheduled for September 2026 in Accra, Ghana.

Officials said the outcomes of the meeting are expected to enhance collaboration among tax administrations and contribute to improved domestic revenue mobilization in support of sustainable development across the region.

WATAF is a regional body that brings together tax administrations across West Africa to strengthen domestic resource mobilization through cooperation, capacity development and knowledge sharing.