Challenges and Achievements of ECOWAS in West Africa

İnan Emiralioğlu

Siyaset Bilimi ve Uluslararası İlişkiler (BA)

TOBB Ekonomi ve Teknoloji Üniversitesi

9 Aralık 2025, Salı

ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) is a regional community of fifteen countries. ECOWAS seeks to foster integration and collaboration. It seeks to create an economic union in west Africa to improve the standard of life for its citizens, preserve and strengthen economic stability, promote ties between member states, and advance and develop the African continent.  It was established when these countries signed the ECOWAS Treaty on the 28th of May 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria. These fifteen countries became founding members of this organization by signing the ECOWAS Treaty: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Cabo Verde joined in 1977. Mauritania withdrew from the organisation in 1999. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso formally withdrew from the regional bloc in January 2025.

Since its formation in 1975, ECOWAS has made significant progress and continuously adjusted to shifting circumstances on a regional and international level. ECOWAS has been an example and inspiration for other African regional entities, including the African Union. For instance, ECOWAS has been especially praised for its role in regional crisis involvement, unrestricted trade and travel, and exceptional level of financial independence. It has also been recognised more recently for its major role during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework was formed in 1999 to resolve and prevent conflicts in the region. This mechanism includes various procedures, both diplomatic and military. Prior to this, ECOMOG (Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group) was established in order to intervene in the civil war in Liberia. Beyond the military dimension, WAHO (West African Health Organization) was created in 1987 as a proactive instrument of regional health integration that enables high-impact and cost-effective interventions and programmes.

Looking at what ECOWAS has accomplished, it has achieved significant achievements in the Sahel region in economic, military, social and cultural terms. ETLS (ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme) was formed as a instrument in 1979 aiming to ensure the free movement of originating products without the payment of customs duties and taxes of equivalent effect on importation into ECOWAS Member States. The proposed one currency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is referred to as the "eco". According to the initial plans, the currency would be introduced first by the governments of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) and then united with the CFA franc, which is used by the French-speaking West African region under the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). The UEMOA states will also be able to become fully independent from France in terms of their finances and currency. An alternate plan put up by the UEMOA states is to convert the CFA franc to the "eco" first, with the possibility of expanding this to other ECOWAS states. Although this plan has taken shape up to the present day, it has not yet come into force. From a military perspective, the conflict resolution platform and ECOMOG have been instrumental in halting civil wars in the region and starting the peace process.

In the name of gender equality and women's inclusion in the workforce in the region, the Business Incubator for African Women Entrepreneurs (BIAWE) program was launched, as part of efforts to empower and eradicate poverty among women in rural communities in the region. On 2024, the ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival was organized to promote cultural exchange and to introduce the cultures of the member countries. In this festival, member countries introduced their cuisines and local cultures.

Apart from all these successful initiatives and projects, there are some challenges that negatively affect ECOWAS and need to be addressed. The region's complete integration is restricted by the ongoing economic inequality among ECOWAS member states. Some nations, such as Liberia, lag behind in terms of infrastructure, industrialization, and human development, while others, such as Nigeria, have comparatively developed economies. Policy implementation among members is challenging due to the imbalances in trade and investment caused by this uneven development. Additionally, because member states have different fiscal policies, inflation rates, and economic conditions, the goal of having a single currency has repeatedly been delayed.

Regular coups and political crises continue to threaten regional stability, making political instability a major problem for ECOWAS. Military takeovers in recent years have disrupted democratic governance and development projects in nations like Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali. These situations show how hard it is for ECOWAS to enforce democratic norms among its member states, like term limits and constitutional governance.  According to the Institute for Security Studies, weak institutions, corruption, and public dissatisfaction with governance have fueled these disruptions, complicating ECOWAS's efforts to mediate and restore order . To achieve its objectives of peace and regional integration, ECOWAS must continue to strengthen democratic norms and address the fundamental causes of instability.

The development of ECOWAS is greatly influenced by outside factors, including globalization and foreign intervention, which frequently bring both opportunities and difficulties. Globalization has made trade easier and opened markets, but it has also made member states more vulnerable to economic threats like fluctuating commodity prices and competition from more developed nations. In addition, regional autonomy has occasionally been weakened by foreign intervention, especially from former colonial powers and international organizations, with outside actors influencing political and economic choices. Additionally, a large number of ECOWAS member states finance development projects primarily through outside investment and aid, a dependency that may restrict their ability to support themselves. In several West African nations, outside funding accounts for more than 60% of public investment, underscoring the region's need on outside assistance. For ECOWAS to achieve sustainable development and regional integration, they should reduce this dependency while having international partnerships.

In conclusion, ECOWAS stands as a base of regional integration and development in West Africa, attempting to unite its member states under a common shared vision of economic prosperity, political stability and cultural unity. Since its foundation, the organization has achieved notable successes, such as facilitating free trade through the ETLS, mediating conflicts to restore peace and promoting initiatives to improve education, healthcare and gender equality. However, significant challenges remain, including economic disparities between member states, ongoing political instability and a heavy reliance on foreign aid and investment. These challenges shows the complexities of achieveing true regional integration in a diverse and dynamic region.

Furthermore, ECOWAS must prioritize stronger cooperation among its members, address the causes of instability and reduce dependency on foreign influences to build a more self reliant and stronger West Africa. By doing so, ECOWAS can not only fulfill its mission but also serve as a example of regional cooperation and progress fort he whole African continent. The journey ahead is challenging, but with efforts and unity, ECOWAS has a great potential to transform West Africa into a symbol of stability, growth and shared prosperity. 

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