Africa-Press – Angola. The customs border authorities of Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recommended, this Friday, in Mbanza Kongo, the reinforcement of measures to combat cross-border crimes.
According to the final communiqué of the 9th joint ordinary meeting of the Customs Border Authorities of Angola and DRC, which ended on Friday night, the parties agreed that for the smuggling of goods along the border, with greater emphasis on fuels, the two countries must work on the exchange of information, and must guarantee logistical conditions for the bodies working at the borders, as well as all legislation or legal instruments that govern the process of customs clearance of goods in both countries.
The participants agreed to maintain the dynamic regarding the identification of unofficial posts, known as “fiote” paths, harmonizing, above all, those that converge with the borders of both countries, suggesting, to high hierarchical structures, their officialization, taking in particular Pay attention to the movement of people and goods, to facilitate greater border control, as well as assess the potential for revenue collection on these illegal routes.
The two tax administrations agreed to maintain monthly meetings between the heads of border posts, as well as other members of the operational order on a permanent basis.
Within the scope of operational brigades made up of agents from both customs administrations, the statement recommends carrying out joint inspection and control operations at the common border, taking into account the territorial limits of each country.
Regarding the Angolan side’s concern about excessive fees charged to Angolan truck drivers in transit to the province of Cabinda and vice versa, the general directorate of customs in that neighboring country advised the Association of Road Transport of Goods of Angola (ATROMA) to engage transporters in the DRC in order to jointly convey their concerns to the Congolese authorities responsible for the aforementioned charges.
By the way, according to the final communiqué of this 9th joint ordinary meeting, the Congolese side was committed to investigating within 30 days the real fees charged to Angolan truck drivers who transit to Congolese territory, heading to Cabinda and vice versa and advises the customs department of Mwanda (DRC) to discontinue charges on trucks entering Congolese territory, in order to rescue vehicles that break down, as long as they are not loaded with new goods and comply with all legal procedures.
The 10th ordinary joint meeting between the two customs administrations will take place on September 6, 2024, in Mwanda, DRC.
The meeting was co-chaired by the director of the 1st region of the General Tax Administration (AGT) for the provinces of Cabinda and Zaire, Ricardo Pais de Aguiar, and by the provincial director of customs for the Central Congo (DRC) region, Alain Tenday Lupumba.
The province of Zaire shares a 310-kilometer border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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