French-speaking West Africa GCI Workshop for UEMOA sub-region, Niamey, Niger

The UEMOA (West African Economic & Monetary Union) GCI workshop was organised in collaboration with the Goverment of Niger and was held in Niamey, Niger, from 27th to 29th October 2010. The workshop was attended by the following UEMOA countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. The national Focal Points for the following conventions also attended the workshop: CITES, Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Cartagena, Chemical Weapons Convention and Interpol. These were complimented by presentations on the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions which were made by Dr Abdouraman Bary from UNEP.

The meeting was officially opened by Mr Issoufoul Issa, Secretary General of Ministry of Water, Environment and Desertification, opening remarks were made by Mr Jeremy Bazye, UNEP, and Colonel Soumana Djibo, Governor of Niamey Region.

At the end of the workshop, participants identified major challenges to the implementation and enforcement of MEAs by customs officers; identified action to be taken in order to effectively implement various MEAs at national and sub-regional level.

Please read the workshop report.