Published: November 3, 2025
Monrovia, Liberia – In a major push toward digital integration and regional trade facilitation, Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire have officially launched the System Interconnected Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT)—a real-time electronic platform designed to simplify customs procedures, enhance transparency, and combat cross-border smuggling. The ceremony took place at the Mamba Point Hotel in Monrovia and brought together senior customs officials, trade policymakers, and regional representatives of ECOWAS.
Unified Customs Network to Track Goods
The SIGMAT initiative aims to create a unified customs network among the three countries, enabling border authorities to track goods from their departure to destination points through shared digital data. Officials say the platform will minimize fraud, reduce revenue leakages, and ensure fairness in trade—especially for small cross-border traders who often face bottlenecks at regional entry points.
Background: Why SIGMAT Was Needed
The event highlighted the creation of SIGMAT as stemmed from ECOWAS’ broader effort to harmonize trade and customs procedures across West Africa. Over the years, a lack of accurate information on goods in transit has posed a major challenge for customs administrations, often leading to delays, smuggling, and disputes over revenue sharing. The new platform—first piloted in 2019 between Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso—seeks to address these issues by allowing real-time data exchange among member states.
Under this system, all goods moving across the borders of Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea will be digitally recorded, monitored, and verified by customs authorities in each country. This will help prevent diversion of transit cargo, strengthen security, and create a more predictable environment for cross-border traders. Officials say the system also aligns with ECOWAS’ commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) by encouraging digitization and transparency in regional commerce.
Regional Leaders Laud the Initiative
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Saa Saamoi, Commissioner of Customs at the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), described the event as “a decisive step toward modernizing and harmonizing transit systems across the ECOWAS region.” He said the new platform symbolizes Liberia’s commitment to regional integration and trade facilitation.
“Today marks a significant milestone, not only for Liberia Customs but for the broader ECOWAS community. Through this initiative, we are enhancing transparency, strengthening trade security, and demonstrating our readiness for a fully digital customs environment,” Saamoi stated.
He expressed appreciation to ECOWAS, the European Union, and the German government through GIZ for their financial and technical support, adding that the collaboration “underscores a shared vision of a connected and efficient trade corridor across West Africa.”
Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea: Partners in Modernization
Representing Côte d’Ivoire, the Technical Advisor to the Director General of Customs emphasized that the deployment of SIGMAT between Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire is part of ECOWAS’ long-term plan to fully operationalize its Community Transit Regime, a key component of the bloc’s trade liberalization agenda.
“This initiative reflects our community’s commitment to securing the transit of goods and facilitating exchanges between our states,” he noted, adding that information sharing through SIGMAT “will strengthen cooperation and drastically reduce customs fraud.”
Delivering remarks on behalf of Guinea, Mr. Mohamed Lamine Doumbouya, Technical Advisor to the Director General of Customs, praised the collaboration as a “historic milestone” in the modernization of regional customs.
“The deployment of SIGMAT will not only secure the logistics chain and customs receipts but will also accelerate trade, reduce costs, and combat fraud,” he said. “Our three countries have much to gain, as this system will enhance transparency and have a direct positive impact on growth and living standards.”
Digital Transformation and National Development
Deputy Minister for Commerce Wilmot A. Reeves aligned the launch with Liberia’s national development blueprint—the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which prioritizes economic transformation through digital innovation.
“This interconnected customs platform is in sync with the government’s agenda to digitize services and make trade facilitation a reality,” Reeves said. “It will help the private sector grow and ensure that Liberia plays a central role in regional trade modernization.”
He also urged neighboring Sierra Leone to join the initiative, describing the collaboration as a “rectangular growth angle” for the Mano River Union region.
Delivering the keynote on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, Resident Representative of the ECOWAS President in Liberia, commended the three countries for taking a “bold step” toward economic integration. She noted that the success of SIGMAT depends on full implementation and awareness among both public and private stakeholders.
“No matter how efficient the system, it is the will and cooperation of member states that will make it work,” Ambassador Nkrumah said. “Trade facilitation directly affects livelihoods, social stability, and economic growth. The link between smooth trade and regional peace is real.”
Reading a message from Dr. Kalilou Sylla, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, she highlighted that SIGMAT was conceived as a home-grown solution to longstanding transit challenges within the community. The platform, she said, allows customs administrations to share advanced cargo information, minimize diversion of goods, and improve security along trade corridors.
Dr. Sylla’s message emphasized that the initiative reflects ECOWAS’ determination to build a seamless, interconnected market in West Africa. He urged all member states to adopt and operationalize SIGMAT fully, noting that “the full benefits will only be realized when every member state is connected.”
Future Impact and Implementation
The ECOWAS Commission also saluted the leadership of Côte d’Ivoire for pioneering the initiative and praised the commitment of Liberia and Guinea for ensuring that their customs systems are now interoperable. Officials believe the move will help create a more attractive trade environment for private investors and reduce the high cost of doing business in the region.
As the event concluded, participants agreed that the success of SIGMAT will depend on continued coordination among customs administrations, the private sector, and trade stakeholders. Awareness campaigns are expected to follow across the three countries to educate cross-border traders—particularly women—on how to benefit from the new system.
Exclusive Insights on SIGMAT’s Operation
During an exclusive interview with journalists at the event, Mr. Saa Saamoi provided additional insights on how SIGMAT will operate and benefit traders:
“Through SIGMAT, we can monitor consignments electronically from departure to destination. This will minimize diversion, strengthen trade security, and create a fair and level playing field for all legitimate traders,” Saamoi explained. “The system also helps prevent losses in revenue when goods are in transit, ensures equity for traders, and provides a predictable environment for cross-border trade. This is particularly important for small traders who often face challenges at borders.”
With SIGMAT now active between Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, authorities are confident that the system will mark the beginning of a new era of customs modernization in West Africa—one defined by transparency, efficiency, and regional cooperation.
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