Abuja: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has emphasized the importance of its Free Movement Protocol in ensuring the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) policy and fostering regional integration. Albert Siaw-Boateng, the ECOWAS Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration, highlighted this during his presentation at the ECOWAS Parliament’s 2026 First Extraordinary Session and Seminar.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol facilitates a borderless region, allowing ECOWAS citizens to move, live, and work freely across member states. Siaw-Boateng explained that the protocol, implemented in three phases, is aligned with the AfCFTA’s policy and is a vital component of the bloc’s regional integration strategy. Adopted in 1979 and revised in 1993, the protocol is described as ECOWAS’ most ambitious integration instrument, leveraging human mobility as a potent tool for economic integration.
The first phase of the protocol permits travel without a visa using a passport and health certificate, with the previous 90-day limit now abolished. Subsequent phases ensure the right of residence and establishment for migrants to work and manage businesses across member states. However, Siaw-Boateng cautioned that the protocol faces challenges such as weak data systems, informality in labour markets, and inconsistent enforcement of free movement rules within member states.
He further warned that governance gaps could threaten regional integration and AfCFTA goals, noting that the success of these initiatives hinges on effective governance structures. Reliable data is essential for monitoring labour mobility and synchronizing policies across the region. Establishing a harmonized regional data collection and management system is crucial for policymakers to craft evidence-based migration and development policies.
The governance gaps identified include limited labour inspection, weak social protection portability, and insufficient labour market information sharing. Data fragmentation and lax enforcement of the protocol continue to impede its implementation in some countries. Additionally, labour informality poses a significant challenge, with ECOWAS prioritizing the alignment of free movement with labour standards and protections to prevent migrant exploitation.
Siaw-Boateng also highlighted issues such as skills mismatches and limited recognition of qualifications, which are being addressed through various initiatives. These include the EU-funded Free Movement and Migration Project, the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, the ECO-Visa, and a Regional Labour Migration Statistics Programme. With approximately 70 per cent of migrant workers in the informal sector, regulating labour standards and extending social protection proves challenging. While labour mobility supports industrial development, addresses skills gaps, and promotes inclusion of women and youth, robust governance reforms and digital labour mobility systems are crucial to fully realize the benefits of AfCFTA and regional integration.