There is confirmation that the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—has initiated steps toward establishing a Common External Tariff (CET) as part of broader economic integration efforts. On October 3, 2025, during a meeting in Bamako, officials from AES member states and Togo discussed the modernization and harmonization of customs information systems. The discussions included strategies to improve the efficiency of customs duty collection, enhance cross-border cooperation, and critically, establish preferential tariffs within the AES region.

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Ethiopia’s reported 8.1% gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for the fiscal year 2023/24 highlights a paradox that resonates across much of Africa: robust economic expansion often coexists with deep structural inequalities. Too often, investors and policymakers equate GDP growth with market attractiveness, while overlooking how unevenly its benefits are distributed. Ethiopia—where GDP per capita remains among the lowest on the continent despite sustained growth in the last two decades—illustrates this tension and offers a cautionary lens for understanding similar patterns across Africa.

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