The free movement of people has been a recognised right in West Africa for over forty years. However, in public and media debate, people living in a neighbouring country are still often referred to as ‘migrants’ or ‘foreigners’. This lexical confusion undermines regional integration and perpetuates imported clichés. Using the correct terminology therefore becomes an act of citizenship.

The free movement of citizens within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which was established in 1979, is a key aspect of regional integration. However, the repeated use of certain terms to describe nationals of one ECOWAS country residing in another is unacceptable and requires a paradigm shift towards true integration.

The most appropriate term to use when referring to an ECOWAS national residing in a neighbouring country depends on the legal framework. Certain expressions are, however, clearly recommended as they respect the spirit of regional integration.

The most accurate legal and institutional term is ‘ECOWAS Community Citizen’. This term is the most accurate and consistent with official texts. It is based on the 1979 ECOWAS Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Establishment. ECOWAS nationals enjoy the right of residence in the host country.

Depending on the context, other expressions may be more appropriate. These include: ‘ECOWAS citizen’ and ‘national of an ECOWAS Member State’.

– The term ‘ECOWAS citizen’ is increasingly being used in regional integration discourse, in line with the organisation’s Vision 2050.

This roadmap has five key areas of focus: peace and security, strong governance, economic integration, sustainable transformation, and the inclusion of women, young people, and children. The ultimate goal is to create an integrated, peaceful, and prosperous West Africa by 2050. Despite the recent withdrawal of certain countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger) in 2025, the goal remains to establish an “ECOWAS of the people” without borders, where citizens can flourish and where strong institutions and respect for freedoms are in place.

‘National of an ECOWAS Member State’ is a neutral term that is widely used in administrative texts and in the press.

The following expressions should be avoided in the ECOWAS context.

These include:

  • ❌ Migrant : an inappropriate term in the ECOWAS area;
  • ❌ Foreigner or Stranger : a legally questionable designation in the community context;
  • ❌ Expatriate : a social, not a legal, term.

The phrase ‘ECOWAS citizen residing in a member country’ is the strongest, both politically and symbolically. It clearly conveys the idea that presence is legal; mobility is regional; and integration is a right, not a favour.

ECOWAS citizens living in Benin, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana or Nigeria exercise their right of residence in accordance with the community’s protocols on the free movement of persons. Mobility within the ECOWAS area is a right, not traditional immigration.

Using the correct terminology is not just a stylistic choice. It is a political, civic and pan-African act. Regional integration can never be achieved by using vocabulary that separates or stigmatises people.

People crossing West African borders with a university file, an employment contract or simply the desire to temporarily reside or settle in a neighbouring country can be exposed to suspicion when crossing borders.

However, within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), mobility is neither a favour nor an administrative concession. It is a community right, enshrined in the 1979 Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Establishment. Referring to ‘migration’ in relation to regional mobility distorts the legal and political reality of West Africa.

Integration begins with the right language

Through international debates, the term ‘migrant’ has come to have negative connotations such as precariousness, irregularity, insecurity and social threat. This perception has largely been shaped by Western discourse on migration, which is frequently reported in the media. But is it reasonable to talk about migration when a Guinean works in Benin, an Ivorian works in Senegal, or a Ghanaian studies in Togo?

These community movements lie at the heart of the regional integration project.

Regional integration cannot be achieved solely through summits or treaties. This is also evident in public discourse, the media, and everyday language. West Africa cannot be built on mental borders that are stronger than physical ones, nor can integration be achieved with a vocabulary of mistrust. ECOWAS will cease to be a mere regional organisation and finally evolve into a collective consciousness the day our media starts referring to people as citizens rather than foreigners.

Accurate naming brings integration to life. Incorrect naming perpetuates clichés and undermines communities that aspire to become spaces of free movement and solidarity. By referring to its citizens as ‘migrants’ or ‘foreigners’, West Africa is making a lexical error and delaying the integration it claims to champion, while also exposing its citizens to all kinds of abuse, both within and outside the community.