Monrovia-The Deputy Commissioner General for Administration of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Nelsco Aleo Wolo, is participating in the Migration Dialogue for West Africa (MIDWA), currently taking place in Abuja, Nigeria.
MIDWA is a regional consultative platform that brings together ECOWAS Member States, regional institutions and international partners to strengthen cooperation and coordination on migration-related issues across West Africa.
Established in 2000 through collaboration between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), MIDWA provides a forum for Member States to exchange experiences, identify common challenges and develop practical approaches to migration governance and border management.
The dialogue addresses a broad range of issues, including the implementation of ECOWAS free-movement principles, integrated border management, migration data and information sharing, migrant protection, return and reintegration, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, irregular migration and travel-document security.
Liberia’s participation in the dialogue is particularly significant given the country’s strategic position within the ECOWAS region and the mandate of the Liberia Immigration Service to manage migration and safeguard the country’s land, air and sea borders.
As an ECOWAS Member State, Liberia is committed to facilitating the legitimate movement of Community citizens while maintaining appropriate immigration procedures, border controls and security measures.
During the MIDWA engagement, Deputy Commissioner General Wolo is representing the Liberia Immigration Service in discussions focused on migration governance, integrated border management, immigration intelligence, migration data, travel-document security and the facilitation of legitimate movement across the region.
The dialogue also provides Liberia with an opportunity to share its experiences and perspectives while learning from the approaches and practices of other ECOWAS Member States and international partners.
Regional cooperation remains essential as migration patterns continue to evolve across West Africa. Movement for employment, education, trade, family reunification and other legitimate purposes continues to contribute to regional integration, while governments and border-management institutions must also respond to challenges including trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling, document fraud and other forms of irregular movement.
The Liberia Immigration Service recognizes that effective migration management requires coordinated action among immigration authorities, law-enforcement institutions, regional bodies, border communities and international partners.
Liberia has continued to participate in regional initiatives aimed at strengthening border management and facilitating legitimate movement. In 2024, the country was represented in technical discussions under the MIDWA framework concerning regional migration instruments, including the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card and matters relating to the movement and residence of Community citizens.
The current MIDWA engagement further underscores the LIS commitment to regional cooperation and institutional partnership in addressing shared migration and border-management challenges.
Through its participation, the Service seeks to contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, improving migration information and data management, enhancing travel-document security and developing coordinated approaches to migration governance.
The Liberia Immigration Service remains committed to working with ECOWAS Member States, the International Organization for Migration and other relevant partners to promote safe, orderly and regular movement, strengthen border-management systems and support effective migration governance.
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