The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken a further step forward in managing migration flows within the region. Meeting in plenary session in Accra, the Community’s lawmakers adopted a resolution calling on all member states to step up their efforts towards reintegrating returning migrants and providing support for victims of human smuggling.

An Alarmingly Negative Assessment from Senegal

This resolution follows the findings of a report compiled by the Senegalese parliamentary delegation during a visit to Senegal from 13 to 17 July 2026. The document, presented to the Assembly by MP Fatou Ba, highlights the many hurdles faced by returning migrants, including widespread unemployment, severe financial insecurity, social stigma and major obstacles to social and professional inclusion.

In light of these challenges, the Parliament advocates a comprehensive and coordinated approach while calling on regional authorities to implement policies offering vocational training, psychosocial support, guidance on entrepreneurship and easier access to finance. Furthermore, mechanisms to protect victims of trafficking must be strengthened, both by improving support services and by taking more robust legal action against the perpetrators.

Youth Employment, Resource Management to Top the Agenda

Addressing the root causes of irregular migration, the resolution emphasises the need to tackle its underlying causes head-on. The Parliament urges Member States to craft national strategies focused on creating sustainable jobs, the economic empowerment of women and young people, and the strengthening of social protection.

Particular focus should be placed on upgrading technical education in growing sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, the creative industries, and the digital and green economies. In order to alleviate the economic pressure weighing heavily on coastal communities, Members also recommend the sustainable management of fishery resources and a stepped-up fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Institutional Mobilisation and Democratic Oversight

With a view to bringing these recommendations to life, the ECOWAS Parliament urges national parliaments to become directly involved. It calls on them to exercise greater oversight of public policies relating to migration and youth, whilst advocating for the necessary budgetary resources to be allocated.

At the same time, the ECOWAS Commission is urged to step up regional coordination, awareness-raising campaigns and skills development programmes. Finally, the institution calls for these outreach initiatives to be mainstreamed, so as to establish a regular mechanism for dialogue on the region’s key challenges.