Key points
- ECOWAS heads of immigration signed the Freetown Declaration in Sierra Leone on November 3 and 4, 2026.
- From January 1, 2027, border posts are to accept a valid ECOWAS biometric ID card from any member state.
- This applies even if the issuing state has not started its own rollout.
- Member states must submit rollout plans with target dates to the ECOWAS Commission by December 2030.
West African immigration chiefs have agreed to accept the ECOWAS biometric ID card at all official border crossings from January 1, 2027. The commitment is part of the Freetown Declaration, adopted at the 10th Annual Meeting of ECOWAS Heads of Immigration. The meeting took place in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on November 3 and 4, and the ECOWAS Commission published its account on November 9.
Under the declaration, a valid ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) from any member state will count as sufficient proof of identity and Community citizenship at border posts. The Commission said this applies even if the issuing state has not begun its national rollout of the card.
What member states committed to
Member states agreed to prepare immigration and border officials, issue clear instructions and equip border posts to verify ENBICs from other states. They also agreed to coordinate with national identity authorities and extend coverage to border regions and citizens abroad. The declaration says the card should stay affordable and accessible, with issuance linked to civil registration.
States must send ENBIC rollout plans with target dates to the ECOWAS Commission by December 2030. Citizens, traders and border communities are to be told about their rights.
What the Commission has to do
The Commission was tasked with putting a monitoring and evaluation committee into operation, finalising common technical specifications and building a regional verification mechanism. It will also report annually on rollout and border acceptance, mobilise resources and work with IATA and other stakeholders. The heads of immigration agreed to review progress at later meetings.
Albert Siaw-Boateng, the Commission’s Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration, said the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement depends on implementation by member states. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor, outlined a proposed Sierra Leone Immigration Service Act to give effect to the free movement regime in national law.
Open questions
The declaration sets an acceptance date but leaves the verification mechanism and technical specifications to be finalised. How border posts will check cards from states that have not started issuing them is not yet spelled out. Readers can find background on how biometrics are used at borders and on their role in national security. Will states with slower rollouts be ready to verify and issue cards by 2027 and 2030?
