Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), also known as CEDEAO in French and Portuguese, is a regional political and economic union comprising twelve West African countries. Established on 28 May 1975 through the Treaty of Lagos, the organisation aims to promote economic integration, foster collective self-sufficiency and advance socio-economic development across the region. ECOWAS is recognised as one of the key Regional Economic Communities (RECs) underpinning the broader African Economic Community (AEC), contributing to continental efforts toward economic harmonisation and cooperation.
Although originally formed as a sixteen-member bloc, the organisation has undergone changes in composition due to suspensions, withdrawals and subsequent political developments. As of 2025, ECOWAS contains twelve member states, representing French-, English- and Portuguese-speaking countries. Together, these states encompass a vast geographical area and host a population exceeding 424 million, forming one of Africa’s most significant regional groupings.

Objectives and Principles

ECOWAS was created to build a unified economic space capable of sustaining growth, enhancing trade and improving the standard of living of its citizens. Central to its mission is the establishment of a common market supported by harmonised economic and trade policies, with the long-term goal of forming a full economic and monetary union.
The principles guiding ECOWAS include:

• Equality and interdependence of member states
• Solidarity, cooperation and shared development
• Self-reliance and economic integration
• Non-aggression and peaceful coexistence
• Promotion of democratic governance and human rights
• Economic and social justice

Notable among ECOWAS’s key frameworks are the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment, enabling ECOWAS citizens to travel and reside freely across member territories, and the Ecotour Action Plan (2019–2029), which aims to strengthen and integrate tourism development in West Africa.

Institutional Development and Integration Efforts

The original Treaty of Lagos was revised in 1993 in Cotonou to expand the organisation’s mandate beyond economic cooperation. The revised treaty strengthened ECOWAS institutions, emphasising political stability, conflict prevention and regional security. Within this framework, ECOWAS has increasingly acted as a mediator and peacekeeping force during times of internal crisis within member states.
ECOWAS has intervened in several regional conflicts, deploying joint military contingents to uphold constitutional order or stabilise unrest. This security function has become a distinguishing feature of the community’s role on the continent.

Membership and Participation

All current ECOWAS members, except Cape Verde (which joined in 1977), were founding members at its establishment in 1975. The bloc is multilingual, with five Francophone, five Anglophone and two Lusophone countries.
In 2017, Morocco formally requested membership, gaining provisional endorsement. However, concerns over the impact of Morocco’s existing free trade arrangements on West African markets stalled the admission process.

Suspensions and Withdrawals

Membership in ECOWAS is contingent upon adherence to democratic norms. Several states have faced suspension following military coups:

• Mauritania withdrew from ECOWAS in 2000 but later signed an associate-membership agreement in 2017.
• Mali was suspended in 2021 after a military coup and later faced sanctions.
• Guinea was suspended in 2021 following political upheaval.
• Burkina Faso was suspended in 2022 after a coup.
• Niger was suspended in 2023 following the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum.

These suspensions often triggered comprehensive sanctions, including border closures, asset freezes, suspension of commercial transactions and restricted airspace. In Niger’s case, the sanctions severely impacted electricity supply, trade and access to essential goods, with significant social consequences.

Formation of the Alliance of Sahel States and Regional Rupture

On 16 September 2023, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso—each ruled by military juntas—formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a mutual defence pact created in response to ECOWAS’s threats to intervene militarily in Niger. Tensions escalated as the AES states accused ECOWAS of imposing punitive measures designed to reverse their military takeovers.
On 28 January 2024, the three Sahelian countries announced their intention to withdraw from ECOWAS without delay. Although ECOWAS protocols require a formal one-year withdrawal process, the AES governments insisted on immediate separation. Celebrations marking their alleged exit were held on 29 January 2025.
In response, ECOWAS sought to ease tensions by lifting certain sanctions on Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso in February 2024. Humanitarian considerations were cited, though observers viewed the move as a diplomatic attempt to prevent permanent fragmentation of the bloc.

Negotiations and Transition Period

By late 2024, ECOWAS Heads of State met to determine a coordinated stance on the AES withdrawal. Leaders such as Senegal’s President Basirou Diomaye Faye and Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu expressed willingness to reintegrate the Sahelian states. On 15 December 2024, ECOWAS adopted a transition period for the withdrawals, beginning on 29 January 2025 and ending on 29 July 2025. The organisation described exits during this period as reversible.
The AES, however, rejected the proposal unequivocally. On 26 January 2025, its foreign ministers convened in Ouagadougou, agreeing on a unified negotiating strategy and affirming the irreversibility of their departure.

Peacekeeping and Security Role

Beyond economic integration, ECOWAS has become a major regional peace and security actor. It has deployed forces during crises in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and other countries. These missions have aimed to restore order, support political transitions and prevent escalation of conflicts. The organisation’s interventions, while sometimes controversial, have helped establish ECOWAS as a central authority in West African stability.

Socio-Economic Goals and Regional Impact

ECOWAS continues to work toward long-term goals, including:

• establishing a unified customs union
• deepening intra-regional trade
• improving infrastructure and connectivity
• enhancing food security and agricultural productivity
• promoting private sector development and industrialisation
• strengthening democratic governance and rule of law

The Free Movement Protocol has facilitated social and economic mobility across the region, while tourism initiatives under the Ecotour Action Plan seek to diversify national economies.

Contemporary Challenges

The political rupture with the AES bloc represents one of ECOWAS’s most significant challenges since its founding. Balancing principles of democratic governance with the need for regional cohesion has become increasingly complex. The sanctions imposed on suspended states have had far-reaching humanitarian and economic implications, highlighting tensions between political objectives and socio-economic realities.
As the transition period unfolds in 2025, ECOWAS faces the task of managing relations with the AES while maintaining integration efforts among the remaining members. The outcome will shape the future of West African political and economic cooperation.