A high-level meeting of immigration officials from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has completed a meeting that focused on plans for a region-wide biometric identity card.Known as the ECOWAS Biometric Identity Card, the intiative aims to improve migration data exchange and the advancement of free movement facilitation in the region. The card can be used as a travel document within the region, in place of the ECOWAS Travel Certificate, which will cease to be produced.Resolving issues related to intra-regional migration is widely been recognized as key to the region's economic growth and stability, stated the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in a statement."As part of the project, in 2014 IOM carried out an expert assessment to analyse the current status of the ECOWAS Biometric Identity Card development and to provide recommendations for a way forward. We see this as a continuation of our long-term support to the ECOWAS Commission for its biometric identity card initiative," said IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Carmela Godeau.In December, ECOWAS officials said that a biometrics-backed ID card will be launched for internal travel in 2016.The ECOWAS biometric ID card is "another milestone in the march to regional integration through unfettered movement of Community citizens", the ECOWAS Commission said.
Recent Articles
- Identity Week Europe 2026 raises the bar with 10 first-time speakers making their debut
- Sumsub joins World Economic Forum Unicorn Community to tackle AI fraud and advance inclusive digital identity
- Air carrier interface integrated into EES strategy
- Kentucky’s first mobile ID accepted for air travel
- FRONTEX expert to headline security document design at Identity Week Europe 2026
Recent Video
- New non-profit trade association of HAND will standardise global talent ID
- No cards, no phones: J.P. Morgan’s biometric revolution in payments
- Anthony Vidiano on building the future of access management
- Charisma Check wins 2025 Start-Up Pitching Competition, advancing identity verification and background checks for dating app users
- How to protect one billion Amazon customers: Lessons from continuous risk assessments
