At the sixth edition of the Africa Resilience Forum, held from 1 to 3 October 2025 in Abidjan, participants emphasized the need for strong political will and quality infrastructure at borders to enhance regional integration and trade across Africa. They highlighted that establishing single digitised checkpoints between neighbouring countries could significantly facilitate the free movement of people and goods, while streamlining customs and trade processes.
Speaking during the panel session “Regional Integration and Trade as Pathways to Peace,” Mohammed Abdiker, Chief of Staff at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), stressed that collaboration among governments is crucial to advance such initiatives. He noted that border management improvements should not only focus on customs but also encompass technology and innovation. Abdiker referenced successful cross-border projects, such as the IOM’s previous initiative between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and a current project between the Central African Republic and Cameroon supported by the African Development Bank.
Since the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2021, Africa has made major strides toward intra-continental trade, with 49 countries ratifying the agreement by January 2025. The African Development Bank has played a pivotal role by financing One Stop Border Post projects that simplify customs and border control, including between Tanzania and Kenya, and a juxtaposed checkpoint between Benin and Togo supported by the African Development Fund.
Liberia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Magdalene Dagoseh, highlighted the importance of digitising border services to improve efficiency and transparency. She explained that digital border management can help reduce corruption and better track the movement of people and goods. Ziad Hamoui, President of Borderless Alliance, further called for greater involvement of civil society in shaping public policies on cross-border trade, noting that informal and illicit trade remain significant and must be better understood to be effectively managed.
Organised biennially by the African Development Bank Group, the Africa Resilience Forum brings together policymakers and experts from the humanitarian, development, and peace sectors to discuss strategies that promote resilience, sustainable growth, and regional cooperation across the continent.
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