Despite the negative socio-economic impact of the border closure measure, most Uemoa land borders still remain closed. On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, a virtual interministerial meeting is trying to resolve this situation, which deprives the vast majority of populations of the use of one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Treaty constituting the Union: that of moving freely between the States. members.

Meeting by videoconference, at the request of the current President of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of UEMOA, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, the Ministers in charge of health, land transport and security got down to propose actions to be presented to the Conference of Heads of State and Government with a view to reopening the borders. Chairing the proceedings, Togo's Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Access to Healthcare, Prof Moustafa Mijiyawa, recalled that if health reasons had forced the States to close the borders, "it seems reasonable to consider the reopening of these borders under certain conditions to be examined, in order to find a balance between health imperatives and socio-economic imperatives”.

Advocating for the reopening of land borders, Abdoulaye Diop recalled that "although health emergencies are part of the grounds provided for by the Treaty to restrict freedom of movement, it is up to the decision-makers that we are to ensure that this restriction is limited. in time ". He goes on to say that “more than a year after the reopening of the air borders, most of the Union's land borders are still closed. This situation deprives the vast majority of our fellow citizens of the use of one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Treaty establishing our Union: that of moving freely between our Member States”. Several recommendations relating to health, safety and awareness measures have been formulated and a timetable proposed. The decision to reopen the land borders will be taken by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of Uemoa.