Officials from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have ended a four-day learning mission to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, as part of the drive to strengthen cooperation between African sub-regional institutions.
The mission was officially launched on May 21, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria, by the Vice president of the ECOWAS Commission, Damtien Tchintchibidja.
The aim of this IGAD learning mission to ECOWAS is to share the experience gained in the area of the free movement regime and the enhancement of migration statistics.
The mission will enable IGAD to gain knowledge and understanding of the governance and functioning of the free movement of persons regime in the ECOWAS region, by examining the legislation, policies, regulations, procedures and instruments that have made it a success, as well as the procedures and instruments that have made the regime an effective tool for peace and development in the ECOWAS region.
The Vice president of the ECOWAS Commission said that the event demonstrated the commitment to regional integration and the spirit of collaboration.
She also commended the role played by ECOWAS experts in drafting the IGAD Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons.
She acknowledged the support of international partners, including the European Union, IOM and GIZ, and expressed appreciation for their support for ECOWAS initiatives.
On behalf of the IGAD Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, the IGAD Permanent Representative to the AU and Head of the IGAD delegation, Ambassador Maureen Achieng, expressed her deep appreciation for the leadership of ECOWAS and the Nigerian Government for facilitating this crucial meeting.
The Ambassador also highlighted IGAD’s achievements in developing protocols for the free movement of people and transhumance.
“Our cooperation with ECOWAS on these protocols is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and establishes a framework for economic and social prosperity in our regions,” Ambassador Maureen observed.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, the Director of External Relations at the ECOWAS Commission, Jérôme Boa, expressed gratitude to the IGAD delegation for its cooperation.
He stressed the common objectives and challenges facing the two regions, highlighting the importance of mutual learning to promote a harmonious and prosperous Africa.
The two organizations reiterated their commitment to strengthening inter-regional ties, enhancing economic opportunities, and ensuring the well-being of their populations through cooperation initiatives.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a regional economic community comprising the countries of the Horn of Africa, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda. Its mission is to develop and accelerate regional integration and cooperation between member states.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established on May 28, 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria, following the signing of the Treaty establishing the organization by 15 West African Heads of State and Government.
The ECOWAS region covers an area of 5.2 million square kilometers and includes the following Member States: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Togo.
Considered as one of the pillars of the African Economic Community, ECOWAS was created with the objective of promoting cooperation and integration, with a view to creating a West African economic union to raise the standard of living of its peoples, maintain and increase economic stability, strengthen relations between member states and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent.
In 2007, the ECOWAS Secretariat was transformed into a Commission headed by a President, assisted by a Vice president and five Commissioners, experienced technocrats who are responsible for providing leadership within the framework of this new orientation.
As part of the reform process, ECOWAS is implementing program of critical and strategic importance, aimed at strengthening cohesion and progressively removing obstacles to the effective integration of the sub-region.
This will ensure that the Community’s 300 million citizens are able to take ownership of the new vision of moving from an ECOWAS of States to an “ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All” by 2050.
