Analysing narratives of free movement of persons in West Africa

This article explores the narratives shaping regional migration governance in West Africa, with a particular focus on the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol. While free movement is a core pillar of regional integration, national policies and practices often contradict regional commitments. Drawing on thematic analysis of academic literature, national migration policies from six ECOWAS countries, and semi-structured interviews conducted between 2014 and 2022, the study identifies six dominant narratives surrounding free movement of persons. These narratives are not fixed; they evolve in response to political, economic and geopolitical pressures, often intersecting with or reproducing dominant narratives promoted by the European Union. The analysis shows how master narratives, rooted in post-colonial statehood, regionalism and external influence, interact with policy narratives that frame migration as a problem to be managed. Some narratives align with state actions, while others are contested by non-state actors such as migrants, civil society and border communities. The findings highlight the complexity and contradictions within regional migration governance in West Africa, shaped by both internal dynamics and external pressures. The article argues for a more de-centred, context-specific approach to migration governance that recognises the lived realities of mobility and centres West African perspectives in regional policy frameworks.