Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have Much to Lose if their Departure from Ecowas Curtails Mobility
Flags of Nigeria surrounding a map of Africa, symbolizing national and continental unity in an official environment.
Ecowas covers a variety of sectors, but migration is a major one. The bloc’s protocols since 1979 have long been seen as a shining example of free movement on the continent. They gave citizens the right to move between countries in the region without a visa, and a prospective right of residence and setting up businesses. For Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, there are several considerations when it comes to regional mobility in their post-Ecowas era. These may include exploring the provisions of the West African Economic and Monetary Union; a return to bilateral agreements with individual neighbours; or relying on the African Union Protocol on Free Movement.
SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION