The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, through its Directorate of Customs Union and Taxation, has officially launched the deployment of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) between Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Liberia. The launch ceremony took place on October 31, 2025, in Monrovia, Liberia. As part of ongoing transit reforms aimed at improving the cross-border movement of goods within the ECOWAS region, the Community first introduced SIGMAT in Abidjan in 2019.
The system enables the exchange of electronic transit messages between countries involved in transit operations based on the interconnectivity of their national customs systems, thereby securing customs revenue, reducing cargo diversion, and fostering confidence in transit trade. Developed as a home-grown digital solution with support of partners including, the European Union, German Development Cooperation, the World Bank, World Customs Organisation and UNCTAD, SIGMAT reinforces ECOWAS commitment to enhancing regional integration and trade facilitation through the seamless digital interconnection of Member States’ customs systems. The system stands as a key pillar in the Region’s drive toward a more efficient, transparent, and competitive trading environment for West Africa.
