ECOWAS Parliament Moves to Abolish Residence Permits for Free Movement

ECOWAS Parliament Moves to Abolish Residence Permits for Free Movement

The ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee has adopted a proposal to eliminate the residence permit requirement across West African nations to facilitate greater freedom of movement within the region.

This recommendation was outlined in a draft report following the committee’s delocalised meeting in Banjul, The Gambia, on Thursday.

Comprising members from various parliamentary standing committees—including Trade, Customs, Free Movement, Social Affairs, and Legal Affairs—the committee argued that the current residence permit system contradicts the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement. The report highlights that these permits have been a significant barrier to seamless regional integration and free travel for citizens.

The proposal now awaits approval from the ECOWAS plenary and member states. In addition, the committee suggested implementing awareness campaigns to educate both citizens and officials on regional agreements and protocols, particularly regarding free movement. Training programs for immigration and customs officers were also recommended to ensure smooth application of the protocols at border posts.

To combat illegal practices, the report called for the deployment of monitors to document cases of extortion at borders and emphasized full compliance with the ECOWAS Biometric Identification Card system. It also urged a review of regional and national legal frameworks to reduce inconsistencies that hinder free movement.

This move comes in response to increasing complaints from ECOWAS citizens regarding the inconsistent implementation of free movement protocols across member states.