Heads of national boundary commissions from across West Africa met in The Gambia from 6 to 8 October 2026 to review progress on recommendations from their previous gathering and identify priority follow-up actions, the ECOWAS Commission said.
The Third Meeting of Heads of National Boundary Commissions was convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration.
In a report from the Economic Community of West African States, the Commission said the meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation among member states and advance coordinated approaches to border governance in the region.
The gathering brought together heads of national boundary commissions alongside representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the African Union, and technical and financial partners including the German Agency for International Cooperation, known as GIZ.
Alieu Njie, chairperson of The Gambia National Boundary Commission, welcomed participants and said their attendance demonstrated a shared commitment to advancing regional integration through effective boundary governance and management.
He commended the ECOWAS Commission, national boundary commissions, development partners and other stakeholders for sustaining the platform since it began in 2024.
Albert Siaw-Boateng, director of free movement of persons and migration, spoke on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dehpue Yenpea Zuo.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of The Gambia for hosting the meeting and facilitating its proceedings.
Siaw-Boateng said the meeting was taking place at a critical juncture in the regional integration agenda, particularly as the ECOWAS Commission strengthens its focus on facilitating free movement within the community.
He said improved mobility must go hand in hand with effective border governance, and highlighted the role of national boundary commissions in promoting well-managed borders, fostering cooperation between neighbouring countries and supporting regional integration.
Major General Cheikhou M.L.B. Camara of Senegal, who chaired the meeting, conveyed greetings on behalf of the President of Senegal and thanked the Government and people of The Gambia for their hospitality and the arrangements made for participants.
Camara called for a broader understanding of borders, saying they should not be viewed solely as lines separating states but also as spaces for interaction, development, collective security and regional integration.
He said the responsibilities of national boundary commissions extend beyond the technical processes of boundary delimitation, demarcation and reaffirmation to include cross-border cooperation, local development, coordination among stakeholders and the implementation of regional and continental border-governance frameworks.
The meeting’s deliberations focused on reviewing the implementation status of recommendations adopted at the Second Meeting of Heads of National Boundary Commissions, held in Cotonou, Benin, in August 2025, and on identifying priority follow-up actions.
Participants examined ongoing national, bilateral and regional border-governance strategies, programmes and projects, including implementation of the ECOWAS Cross-Border Support Programme for 2023 to 2027, with a view to strengthening complementarity, coordination and sustainability.
Particular attention was given to accelerating boundary delimitation, demarcation and reaffirmation through the exchange of technical experiences, innovative approaches and lessons learned, as well as enhanced peer-to-peer support among national boundary commissions and structures.
Discussions also addressed local border-development and governance plans, including their legal, institutional and financial implementation, and the participation and empowerment of border communities.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration among ECOWAS member states, regional and continental institutions, and development partners in promoting effective border governance as a foundation for peaceful coexistence, security, local development and deeper regional integration.
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