ECOWAS issues biometric cards to over 260 women in Senegal–Guinea-Bissau border communities

The Economic Community of West African States (Economic Community of West African States) has supported more than 260 women by issuing ECOWAS National Biometric Cards as part of efforts to strengthen free movement and identification across the region.
The distribution took place on March 16, 2026, during a formal handover ceremony organized by ECOWAS’ Directorate of Free Movement of Persons, Migration, and Tourism, with support from the German Agency for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).
The biometric cards were presented to beneficiaries in border communities including São Domingos, Guinea-Bissau and Mpack, Senegal, aiming to enhance mobility, improve identification, and facilitate cross-border activities for residents, particularly women engaged in local trade and livelihoods.
The initiative is part of broader regional efforts to promote integration, security, and ease of movement among West African citizens living in frontier communities.