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ECOWAS

Not to be confused with West African Economic and Monetary Union.
Economic Community of West African States
  • Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (French)
  • Comunidade Económica dos Estados da África Ocidental (Portuguese)
Flag of the Economic Community of West African States
Flag
Emblem of the Economic Community of West African States
Emblem
  Member states
  Suspended states
HeadquartersAbuja, Nigeria 9°2′31″N 7°31′30″E / 9.04194°N 7.52500°E / 9.04194; 7.52500
Official languages
  • English
  • French
  • Portuguese
Member states
Leaders
• Chairman
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
• President of the Commission
Omar Touray
Moustapha Cissé Lô
Establishment28 May 1975
28 May 1975[1]
• Treaty Revision
24 July 1993
Area
• Total
5,114,162 km2 (1,974,589 sq mi) (7th)
Population
• 2019 estimate
387 million (3rd)
• Density
68.3/km2 (176.9/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)2015 estimate
• Total
US$1.483 trillion[2] (18th)
• Per capita
US$4,247[3]
GDP (nominal)estimate
• Total
$816.4 billion[4] 2019 (21st)
• Per capita
$2,089
Currency
Time zoneUTC-1 to +1
Website
www.ecowas.int

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS; also known as CEDEAO in French and Portuguese) is a regional political and economic union of twelve countries of West Africa. Collectively, the present and former members comprise an area of 5,114,162 km2 (1,974,589 sq mi) and have an estimated population of over 424.34 million.[5]

Considered one of the pillar regional blocs of the continent-wide African Economic Community (AEC), the stated goal of ECOWAS is to achieve "collective self-sufficiency" for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc by building a full economic and trading union. Additionally, ECOWAS aims to raise living standards and promote economic development.[6] The union was established on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos,[7] with its stated mission to promote economic integration across the region. A revised version of the treaty was agreed and signed on 24 July 1993 in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin.[8]

ECOWAS's published principles include equality and inter-dependence of member states, solidarity, self-reliance, cooperation and harmonization of policies, nonaggression, promotion of human rights, economic and social justice, and democratic governance.[9]

Notably among ECOWAS's protocols and plans are the ECOWAS Free Movement of Persons, Residences and Establishment Protocol and the Ecotour Action Plan 2019–2029. The Free Movement of Persons Protocol permits citizens the right to enter and reside in any member state's territory,[10] and the Ecotour Action Plan aims to develop and integrate the tourist industry of each member state.[11]

ECOWAS also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region, with member states occasionally sending joint military forces to intervene in the bloc's member countries at times of political instability and unrest.[12][13]

In 2024, the military governments of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali jointly announced their withdrawal from the bloc, after having been suspended following respective military takeovers in these countries.[14][15] The withdrawal took effect on 29 January 2025.[16] The three later went on to form the Alliance of Sahel States, with the end goal of establishing a federation.[17][18]

  1. ^ "African Union". Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  2. ^ Data. "GDP, PPP (current international $) | Table". World Bank. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  3. ^ Data. "GNI per capita, PPP (current international $) | Table". World Bank. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  4. ^ Data. "Enoch Randy Aikins (2023) West Africa/ECOWAS. Updated 7 June 2023. (current US$) | Table". futures.issafrica.org. Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Members of the ECOWAS – Economic Community of West African States". Worlddata.info. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)". United States Trade Representative. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Revised ECOWAS Treaty (1993) | International Investment Agreements Navigator | UNCTAD Investment Policy Hub". investmentpolicy.unctad.org. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Fundamental Principles". ECOWAS. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Adeyemi, Segun (6 August 2003). "West African Leaders Agree on Deployment to Liberia". Jane's Defence Weekly.
  13. ^ "The 5 previous West African military interventions". Yahoo News. AFP. 20 January 2017. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso announce withdrawal from ECOWAS". Al Jazeera. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso seek re-entry to regional blocs". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Military governments lead West African trio out of ECOWAS regional bloc". Al Jazeera. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  17. ^ "Alliance of Sahel States | UIA Yearbook Profile | Union of International Associations". uia.org. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  18. ^ "West Africa bloc warns of 'disintegration' as juntas form 'Confederation of Sahel States'". France 24. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2025.

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