ECOWAS has handed out biometric identity cards to 262 women traders operating along the Senegal–Guinea-Bissau border, aiming to simplify cross-border movement and support regional trade.
The cards were distributed on March 16, 2026, in the twin border towns of São Domingos in Guinea-Bissau and Mpack in Senegal.
The initiative, supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation, is led by ECOWAS’ Directorate of Free Movement of Persons, Migration and Tourism. It is designed to help women in informal trade navigate administrative challenges and travel legally across borders.
Officials from both countries, including Honorina Vasconcelos of Guinea-Bissau and Mor Talla Tine of Senegal, attended the ceremony.
Vasconcelos described the project as a key step toward stronger economic links and smoother movement across the sub-region. Tine emphasized the need to turn border communities into hubs of opportunity while remaining vigilant against cross-border crime, noting that around 100 women cross the Mpack–São Domingos border daily without proper documentation.
Obinna Ajugwo, representing ECOWAS’ Directorate of Free Movement, highlighted that the biometric cards improve both mobility and security by offering a reliable system for identity verification at the border.
The programme is part of ECOWAS’ broader strategy to enhance migration management, strengthen border systems, and advance the free movement of people across West Africa. Established in 1975, ECOWAS continues to promote economic cooperation and regional integration, aiming for “Peace and Prosperity to All by 2050.”
