BAMAKO, MALI – The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) today convened its 22nd Council Meeting in Bamako, Mali, bringing together tax leaders from across the region to discuss strategic priorities aimed at strengthening tax administration, enhancing domestic revenue mobilization and supporting sustainable development in West Africa.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Regional Tax Cooperation for Sustainable Development,” the meeting is hosted by the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) of Mali in collaboration with the WATAF Secretariat.
The WATAF Council, the Forum’s second-highest decision-making body, comprises six elected heads of tax administrations from member countries and provides strategic oversight and governance direction for the organization. The current Council is composed of representatives from Burkina Faso (Chairperson), Guinea-Bissau (Vice Chairperson), Nigeria, Guinea, The Gambia and Senegal, while the Executive Secretary serves as Secretary to the Council.
The meeting commenced with an official opening ceremony featuring remarks by WATAF Executive Secretary Jules Tapsoba, WATAF Council Chairperson Talato Eliane Djiguemdé-Ouédraogo, and the Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Mali.
Opening the meeting, the Minister of Economy and Finance of Mali, Mr. Alousseni Sanou, underscored the growing importance of domestic resource mobilization in addressing the 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,” the Minister declared.
Minister Sanou noted that the financing of public policies, infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and economic transformation increasingly depends on countries’ ability to mobilize their own resources, placing tax administrations at the center of building resilient and sovereign States capable of meeting the aspirations of their citizens.
The Minister further emphasized that tax administrations must respond to emerging challenges associated with 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,” Sanou stated, describing WATAF as a vital platform for dialogue, technical cooperation, knowledge sharing and the exchange of best practices among tax administrations in West Africa.
Welcoming participants, WATAF Executive Secretary Jules Tapsoba expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Mali for hosting the meeting and highlighted the strategic role of WATAF in supporting member countries.
“Today, more than ever, the effective mobilization of domestic resources remains a strategic priority for our States. 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,” he said.
The Executive Secretary noted that WATAF currently comprises 15 member countries and is preparing to welcome Mauritania as its 16th member during the forthcoming General Assembly. He also highlighted the organization’s continued efforts to strengthen regional cooperation, build technical capacity, improve governance, promote institutional sustainability and deepen strategic partnerships.
In her address, WATAF Council Chairperson Talato Eliane Djiguemdé-Ouédraogo emphasized the critical role of tax administrations in supporting national development and economic resilience.
“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.
The Chairperson reaffirmed the importance of WATAF as a 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.
She noted that the Council Meeting would examine key governance issues, review the implementation of previous recommendations, consider institutional and financial strengthening measures, and prepare strategic documents for the upcoming WATAF General Assembly and the organization’s 15th Anniversary celebrations scheduled for September 2026 in Accra, Ghana.
Earlier, participants observed a minute of silence in memory of victims of the tragic events that occurred in Mali on 25 April 2026, with the Chairperson conveying WATAF’s solidarity with the Government and people of Mali.
Throughout the day, Council members reviewed the implementation status of recommendations adopted during previous Council and General Assembly meetings, considered the 2025 External Audit Report, examined the First Quarter 2026 Activity and Budget Reports, discussed the revised WATAF Agreement and Procedures Manual, and received updates on member country contributions to the organization’s budget.
The meeting also considered strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing regional cooperation, strengthening institutional effectiveness and positioning WATAF to respond to emerging challenges facing tax administrations in West Africa.
Commending WATAF’s leadership, the Minister praised the efforts of Council Chairperson Talato Eliane Djiguemdé-Ouédraogo and Executive Secretary Jules Tapsoba in advancing the visibility and development of the organization.
Reaffirming Mali’s commitment to regional integration and cooperation, the Minister concluded with a call for solidarity, innovation and collective action. “Together, we can build tax systems that are more efficient, more equitable and better adapted to the realities of our economies,” he said.
The outcomes of the 22nd Council Meeting are expected to further strengthen regional cooperation, enhance the effectiveness of tax administrations and contribute to improved domestic revenue mobilization in support of sustainable development across West Africa.
About WATAF
The West African Tax Administration Forum (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. WATAF plays a leading role in shaping regional tax policy dialogue and supporting the modernization and harmonization of tax systems in line with regional and international standards.
