The Executive Secretary of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), Mr. Jules Tapsoba, on Tuesday held high level discussions with the Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria, H.E. Traore Kalilou, on strengthening domestic revenue mobilization, regional tax harmonization, and West Africa’s collective response to emerging global tax reforms.
The strategic engagement, held at the Ivorian Embassy in Abuja, also focused on enhancing regional cooperation among tax administrations, strengthening fiscal sustainability across West Africa, and reinforcing institutional partnerships aimed at supporting the region’s development financing needs amid declining donor support.
During the meeting, Mr. Tapsoba provided an overview of WATAF’s mandate, structure, and strategic role as a regional body comprising 16 member countries across West Africa, including Mauritania.
The Executive Secretary noted that beyond enhancing technical capacity for revenue collection, WATAF continues to champion a coordinated regional approach to emerging international tax issues, global tax reforms, and the protection of West Africa’s taxing rights in the evolving global fiscal environment.
He further disclosed that WATAF is pursuing stronger engagement within international tax governance platforms, including ongoing efforts to secure broader representation in global tax policy discussions at the United Nations level, in order to amplify the collective voice and interests of West African countries on international taxation matters.
Highlighting WATAF’s achievements since its establishment in 2011, Mr. Tapsoba stated that the Forum has, over the past 15 years, played a pivotal role in advancing tax harmonization, strengthening institutional capacity, combating tax evasion and illicit financial flows, and supporting member countries in addressing contemporary tax challenges, including the taxation of the digital economy.
The Executive Secretary commended Côte d’Ivoire for its consistent support and constructive engagement with WATAF, describing the country as one of the Forum’s committed and exemplary member states. He called for the further strengthening of collaboration between WATAF and Côte d’Ivoire in advancing regional fiscal and economic integration.
As a symbol of appreciation and institutional partnership, Mr. Tapsoba presented WATAF souvenirs and branded accessories to Ambassador Kalilou and thanked him for the warm reception accorded the WATAF delegation.
The WATAF Executive Secretary was accompanied by the Forum’s Manager for Administration, Mr. Francis Ezeji; Finance Manager, Ms. Azibator Deborah Obudah; and Manager for Communication and IT, Mr. Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh.
In his remarks, Ambassador Kalilou welcomed the WATAF delegation and described the visit as timely and important, while commending the Forum for the significant technical work it continues to undertake across the region.
The Ambassador underscored the strategic importance of taxation to economic growth, fiscal stability, and national development, noting that effective tax systems remain central to sustainable governance and public sector financing in West Africa.
He also emphasized the importance of regional tax harmonization, particularly in areas such as Value Added Tax (VAT), describing harmonized fiscal frameworks as critical to regional trade, economic integration, and private sector development.
Drawing from his experience within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ambassador Kalilou further suggested that WATAF could benefit from stronger institutional support through enhanced engagement at the level of Finance Ministers across member states. According to him, such a framework could further deepen political understanding, institutional ownership, and support WATAF’s mission of strengthening tax and customs administration in West Africa.
The visit to the Ivorian Ambassador forms part of WATAF’s ongoing strategic engagements aimed at expanding the Forum’s regional and international outreach, strengthening institutional partnerships, and reinforcing the capacity of West African countries to mobilize domestic resources for sustainable development at a time when traditional donor support continues to decline globally.
WATAF has a growing collaboration with regional and international institutions including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Development Bank (AfDB), African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Open Society Foundations, and other strategic partners including Afreximbank, aimed at strengthening domestic revenue mobilization and fiscal governance across West Africa.
He emphasized WATAF’s commitment to strengthening tax and customs administration through capacity building, technical assistance, policy dialogue, and knowledge sharing aimed at improving domestic revenue mobilization within the region.
