Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: 24 March 2026. Twelve African countries have taken a major step forward in the fight against illicit tobacco trade, gathering in Abidjan from 23–24 March 2026 to accelerate implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.
The multicountry workshop brought together eight countries advancing toward accession or ratification — namely, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Liberia, Namibia and Uganda — alongside four countries that have already become Parties to the Protocol: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia and Kenya. This mix enabled practical peer-to-peer exchange between countries at different stages of the Protocol journey.
Over the two days, participants shared real-world experiences, identified bottlenecks in national ratification processes, and explored ways to strengthen tax administration and cross-border cooperation. Discussions underscored how illicit tobacco trade undermines public health, drains government revenues, and fuels criminal networks — challenges that no country can address in isolation, demanding coordinated regional action.
The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, a treaty under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), equips governments with a robust set of tools to control the tobacco supply chain. These include track-and-trace systems, robust licensing regimes, enhanced supply chain monitoring, and strengthened law-enforcement collaboration at national and regional levels.
African Member States are increasingly embracing these measures. To date, 22 countries in the WHO African Region have ratified the Protocol, reflecting strong political commitment to curb illegal tobacco flows, protect public health, and safeguard government revenues.
The workshop was jointly convened by WHO AFRO and the Convention Secretariat, who reaffirmed their commitment to sustained technical assistance. Ongoing support will prioritize helping countries complete ratification processes, operationalize the Protocol’s provisions, and build resilient, inter-agency systems capable of effectively disrupting illicit tobacco markets.
As African countries intensify collective action and regional cooperation, the region is moving closer to a future where strong governance, transparent tobacco supply chains, and improved population health outcomes go hand in hand.