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ECOWAS Committees Advocate For Abolition Of Residence Permit System
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) committees on Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Political Affairs, Peace, Security, and the African Peer Review Mechanism (MAEP), have called for the elimination of the residence permit system within member states.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that during their delocalized sessions in Banjul, The Gambia, the joint committee presented a draft report on Thursday recommending that member states and the ECOWAS Commission abolish the residence permit requirement, which they argue restricts the free movement of citizens across the region.
The ECOWAS Residence Permit, or Residence Card, was established under the ECOWAS Treaty of 1975 to facilitate the movement of citizens intending to reside in another ECOWAS country for business, employment, or personal reasons.
ECOWAS Residence Permit System
However, the joint committee believes this system now hinders regional integration and free movement.
The report, pending plenary approval, stated, “The issuance of residence permits should be completely abolished in the region in conformity with the Community Text.”
The committee also raised concerns about the inconsistent implementation of ECOWAS free movement protocols at borders throughout West Africa.
In addition to calling for the abolition of the residence permit, the joint committee recommended comprehensive awareness campaigns to educate citizens and government officials about regional agreements, including the Protocol on Free Movement.
They urged that the Free Movement Protocol be made available to all Immigration Officers, particularly at border posts, and that relevant Community Texts be included in training programs for Immigration and Customs officials.
The parliamentarians also called for the appointment of officials at border posts to monitor, document, and report incidents of extortion and misconduct.
They further urged the ECOWAS Commission to ensure that member states fully implement all Community Texts ratified by Heads of State and Government, emphasizing the need for the full adoption of the ECOWAS Biometric Identification Card.
Additionally, the committee requested that the ECOWAS Commission and Parliament undertake reviews of all ratified Community Texts at the national level to align regional and national legislation more closely.
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Earlier in the week, the joint committee held a town hall meeting with stakeholders and conducted an interactive session with border officials in The Gambia and Senegal to assess the implementation of ECOWAS free movement protocols and identify challenges hindering their full execution.
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