The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has intensified efforts to strengthen border management and migration governance across the region, convening a three-day regional workshop in Praia, Cabo Verde, to assess and harmonise immigration training standards among member states.

The workshop, held from March 24 to 26, 2026, was organised by the ECOWAS Commission through its Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration.

It brought together representatives from national training academies, specialised institutions, and key international partners to evaluate existing systems and chart a unified path forward.

Participants examined the current state of immigration and border management training across the sub-region, with a focus on aligning national practices with ECOWAS protocols.

The exercise also identified gaps, inconsistencies, and operational challenges, while proposing priority actions to standardise and strengthen training frameworks across member states.

Delegates at the meeting included officials from ECOWAS institutions, as well as representatives of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), both of which supported the organisation of the workshop.

In his welcome remarks, Mr Manuel Nascimento, Director of Migration Services and Border in Cabo Verde, urged participants to engage actively in deliberations to ensure meaningful outcomes that would benefit the entire region.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, and the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Kalilou Sylla, the Director of Free Movement of Persons, Migration and Tourism, Albert Siaw-Boateng, expressed appreciation to the government and people of Cabo Verde for hosting the event.

He also acknowledged the contributions of IOM and ICMPD in facilitating the workshop, while reaffirming the importance of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment as a cornerstone of regional integration.

Siaw-Boateng, however, noted that implementation of key ECOWAS instruments remains uneven across member states.

He highlighted the slow adoption of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) as a major challenge, stressing the need for coordinated efforts to improve compliance and operational efficiency.

The workshop forms part of broader ECOWAS initiatives aimed at enhancing cross-border cooperation, improving migration management, and ensuring seamless mobility within West Africa, in line with the bloc’s long-standing integration agenda.