The Republic of Niger has barred ECOWAS passports, implementing changes to its immigration policies.
Several Nigerian business owners have reported difficulties in making it into Niger with ECOWAS passports as border authorities are said to be demanding international passport in place of the former, before allowing West Africans access the country.
This development comes amid ongoing tensions and the evolving political landscape following several coups in the region.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced military coups in recent years. The coups led to a significant shift in relations between ECOWAS and the three nations.
In January 2024, the three countries announced their intention to withdraw from ECOWAS, citing issues like “inhumane sanctions” and dissatisfaction with the bloc’s response to their internal crises, particularly regarding tackling the various security threats by the jihadist groups.
ECOWAS was established in 1975 to promote economic integration among its member states, which include both coastal and landlocked countries like Niger.
One of the key initiatives of ECOWAS was to facilitate the free movement of people, goods, and services within the region through the introduction of the ECOWAS passport.
The document was designed to allow citizens of member countries to travel without visas for up to 90 days, promoting trade, cultural exchange, and regional unity.
However, it appears traders and business owners in Nigeria will now have to acquire additional documents to gain entry into Niger.
The decision affects not only travel but also trade and security cooperation. Niger shares a long border with Nigeria, and this restriction could hamper informal trade routes and exacerbate security challenges, especially given the shared issues with insurgency and terrorism in the Sahel region.
Reacting after Niger barred ECOWAS passports, Mansur Abdullah, a trader who frequently travels between the two countries, confirmed the development to the press.
He said: “I believe there is a move to abolish the ECOWAS passport as a means of travelling here; they have started harassing us if we are entering the country.
“Some of our people are being turned back home. We learnt that there is a new passport being issued now to everyone coming to Niger Republic to replace the old ECOWAS passport.
“Some of our people are getting scared of the aftermath of all these issues, which have started to affect our business and trading activities”
