Africa: Travel Restriction and Employment Restriction Lifted

Effective immediately, nationals of Niger can again enter countries part of the Economic Community of the West Africa States (ECOWAS) (which include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Republic of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo). ECOWAS implemented this travel restriction in July 2023 due to political instability. Additionally, nationals of Mali are now again eligible for employment in professional positions (those which require specialized skills) within entities in ECOWAS countries, whereas they faced this restriction since 2022 due to economic and financial sanctions imposed by ECOWAS.