INCLUSIVITY AND TRANS–BORDER SECURITY UNDER ECOWAS FREE MOVEMENT AND TRANSHUMANCE PROTOCOLS

Abstract

Recent world events, such as Brexit and President Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ policies, suggest that a growing number of nation-states want a cap on immigration. The situation is not different in West Africa, notwithstanding establishment of the Economic Community of West African States. The ECOWAS Free Movement and Transhumance protocols respectively guarantee free movement of ECOWAS citizens and transhumance livestock across the sub-region. However, because these movements often allow criminal elements and weapons to transit through borders thereby exposing lawful persons in harm’s way, there are security concerns on the protocols. From the Nigerian flank, the recent herders–farmers violent conflicts and even the festering Boko Haram insurgency have been linked to the migrations. This paper interrogates the elements of these ECOWAS protocols in view of Nigeria’s security situation. The authors proffer measures of abating the security challenge as envisaged under the protocols and recommend ways to balance the needs of security and inclusivity.