OUAGADOUGOU – The Burkinabè Shippers’ Council (CBC) is spearheading initiatives to augment its visibility and operational efficacy along Burkina Faso’s service corridors and transit ports in the sub-region. A special media tour was recently organized to showcase these efforts, highlighting the vital role of the CBC in regional transport and logistics.

According to Burkina Information Agency, head of the CBC communications department, the immersive media journey along the Ouagadougou-Lomé corridor aimed to acquaint journalists with the CBC’s extensive service offerings, territorial coverage, and collaborative partnerships at transit ports. The first stop on this educational trip was the Juxtaposed Control Post (PCJ) in Cinkanssé, which is managed by Scanning Système under the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). This strategic location facilitates the processing of transit formalities for goods, involving various stakeholders such as road carriers, national police services, customs, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burkina (CCI-BF), and carriers’ associations.

Amadou Geoffroy Ouédraogo, head of the CBC office at Cinkanssé, detailed the operational processes at the PCJ, noting the critical importance of the Transport Tracking Document (DST) in regulating truck entries and exits. He emphasized the CBC’s role as the legal representative of shippers, serving as a crucial intermediary between shippers and governmental bodies. The office processes around a hundred files daily, benefiting from strong collaborations with partners, particularly Customs, which plays a significant role in the transit process at the PCJ.

Adama Ulrich Ouédraogo, head of the Customs post, pointed out that the CBC’s platform, known as the Electronic Cargo Tracking Slip (BESC), significantly aids Customs in verifying the declared values of goods. He remarked on the challenges faced due to increased transporter flow, exacerbated by the closure of the Nadiagou checkpoint on the Beninese border and disputes between Niger and Benin. Among the pressing needs at the PCJ are the expansion of parking facilities and enhancements to the internet connectivity to accommodate over 600 vehicles passing daily.

Representing the Union of Truck Drivers of Burkina (UCRB), Jean Kiema underscored the CBC’s substantial impact on their activities while calling for urgent solutions to address the insufficient parking space, which has become a critical issue for truck drivers in the area.