ABUJA/Nigeria: The ECOWAS Commission on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in Abuja, held high-level talks with a delegation from the Embassy of Sweden, as both sides reviewed regional labour migration governance and the implementation of the ECOWAS free movement regime.
The engagement provided a platform for both parties to exchange perspectives on ongoing and planned regional initiatives aimed at strengthening labour migration governance, promoting safe, orderly and regular migration, and enhancing the effective implementation of ECOWAS free movement protocols across West Africa.
Central to the discussions were recent developments under the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP), following the approval of its third phase by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The programme is designed to reinforce regional cooperation on labour mobility as a catalyst for sustainable development.
The Swedish delegation was led by Mr. Joachim Beijmo, Head of Regional Development Cooperation in Africa at the Embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa, alongside Ms. Agnes Geijer-Farah, Programme Manager for Migration and Development under Sweden’s regional strategy, and Ms. Ann Sofie Fofana Rahmqvist, Programme Manager for Peace, Security and Resilience at the Embassy of Sweden in Dakar.
Senior officials from the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Free Movement and Directorate of Humanitarian Affairs also participated in the meeting, highlighting the Commission’s integrated and cross-sectoral approach to migration governance, mobility and regional development.
Both sides emphasised the importance of regional cooperation, policy coherence and institutional coordination in advancing labour mobility as a driver of economic development, peace and stability in West Africa. The Swedish delegation reaffirmed Sweden’s continued commitment to supporting ECOWAS-led migration and free movement initiatives through strategic partnerships and programme-based cooperation.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to sustain dialogue and deepen collaboration in the implementation of JLMP Phase III and other related regional frameworks.
