The political and security challenges facing ecowas in. The region encompasses 15 nations of which one member is an island state. Since its creation, ecowas has faced multiple political, economic and security challenges arising from member states. The economic community of west african states ecowas is a regional organisation of 15 west african countries established on 28 may 1975. Union eu and the economic community of west african states ecowas. Events 30 apr 2020 30 jun 2020 abuja notice to all bidders on postponement of site visit and deadline for submission. The political and security challenges facing ecowas in the. The organization seeks to harmonize agricultural policies and to facilitate the free movement of peoples, services, and capital between members. Ecowas synonyms, ecowas pronunciation, ecowas translation, english dictionary definition of ecowas. Mar 16, 2017 the ecowas treaty also known as the treaty of lagos established the community when it was signed in lagos, nigeria, on may 28, 1975. In july, 1993, a revised ecowas treaty designed to accelerate economic integration and to increase political cooperation, was signed. Ecowas and the functions of each level in the hierarchy. It had its roots in earlier attempts at a west african economic community in the 1960s and was spearheaded by yakuba gowon of nigeria and gnassigbe eyadema of togo. Articles on economic community of west african states ecowas displaying all articles cfa franc countries will no longer have to keep 50% of their foreign exchange reserves at.
History february 1965 cote divoire, guinea, liberia, and sierra leone sign an agreement. The economic community of west african states ecowas ecowas is the major regional economic unit of subsaharan western africa and the focus of this work. Welcome to the economic community of west african states ecowas. The factors responsible for the resounding success of the european union in its integration efforts on the one hand, and the very modest and limited success of the economic community of west african states on the other hand shall also be discussed before a conclusion is drawn. The idea for a west african community goes back to president william tubman of liberia, who made the call in 1964. X economic community of west african states combines 16 arab, english, french, and portuguesespeaking states of west africa in a scheme aimed at producing a customs union and a common market over a 15year period. In july 1993, a revised ecowas treaty designed to accelerate economic integration and to increase political cooperation, was signed. It comprises all the elected members of parliament. Lagos, establishing the economic community of west african states ecowas. The political and security implications of cross border. Ecowas economic community of west african states praf peoples revolutionary armed forces.
French an assessment of progress towards regional integration in the economic community of west african states since its inception may 2015 economic community of west african states subregional office. Chapter three nigeria and the establishment of ecowas. Regional integration in western africa report prepared for and financed by the ministry of foreign affairs, the netherlands by sheila page and sanoussi bilal september 2001 overseas development institute 111 westminster bridge road london se1 7jd uk tel. Dating back to precolonial times, west africans have been among the worlds most mobile populations although much of the migration had been intraregional.
Chapter three nigeria and the establishment of ecowas 3. The economic community of west african states ecowas was created by the treaty of lagos in lagos, nigeria, on may, 28, 1975. Population movements have become a major feature in african history. April 1972 general gowon of nigeria and general eyadema of togo reintroduce the idea of a west african regional trade agreement. A gap analysis of ecowas market integration west africa trade hub technical report no. History economic community of west african statesecowas. Established on may 28 1975 via the treaty of lagos, ecowas is a 15member regional group with a mandate of promoting economic integration in all fields of activity of the constituting countries. Since its creation on 28 may 1975, the economic community of west african states ecowas has been promoting economic cooperation and regional integration as a tool for an accelerated development of the west african economy. Ecowas has been designated one of the five regional pillars of the african economic community aec. Pdf a historical overview of ecowas intervention in sub. For a discussion of the treaty establishing it, see west africa 16 june 1975. Collectively, these countries comprise an area of 5,114,162 km 2 1,974,589 sq mi, and in 2015 had an estimated population of over 349 million the union was established on 28 may 1975, with the signing of the treaty of lagos, with its. Ecowas sectors economic community of west african states. Ecowas economic community of west african states praf peoples revolutionary armed forces imf international monetary fund icgg international contact group on guinea icggb international contact group on guineabissau lurd liberians united for reconciliation and democracy cmdf casamance movement of democratic forces mru mano river union.
Abstract the study utilizes regional integration theories like neofunctionalism, intergovernmentalism and new regionalism to analyse the formation, structure and transformation of the economic community of west african states ecowas. Introduction in may 1975, the original treaty of the economic community of west african states ecowas1 was ratified in lagos, nigeria by 15 african heads of states. Collectively, these countries comprise an area of 5,114,162 km2, in 2015 had an estimated population of over 349 million. The creation of ecowas in may 1975 marked the successful outcome of protracted negotiations that had begun shortly after independence, and which reflected the mounting sense of unease in africa and throughout the third world that political independence did not signify effective control by the new states of their economies. Indeed, ecowas is one the five regional pillars of the african economic community aec. The government of cote divoire has started a program to crack down on this problem, and results are. Table 2 shows that over 40% of ecowas import is from the eu, while the structure revealed on tables 1 and 2 may not be unconnected with various trade. The ecowas treaty also known as the treaty of lagos established the community when it was signed in lagos, nigeria, on may 28, 1975. The economic community of west african states ecowas was created on may 28, 1975 in lagos, nigeria. Its mission is to promote economic integration in all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and. The economic community of west african states ecowas was established in 1975 with the formal aim of promoting economic cooperation between 15 countries with different historic trajectories colonisation, language, and administrative cultures yet sharing similar socioeconomic conditions. Mauritania was a founding member, but withdrew officially from the trade bloc in 1999. It has been replaced in 1993 by the revised treaty signed in cotonou.
For over two decades now, west africa has remained one of africas most conflictridden regions. The economic community of west african states known as ecowas, is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in west africa. Pdf ecowas and the restoration of democracy in the gambia. The economic community of west african states, also known as ecowas, is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in west africa. The members of the community, hereinafter referred to as the member states, shall be the. A revised treaty was later signed on july 24, 1993.
Economic community of west african states ecowas, african organization established by the treaty of lagos in may 1975 to promote economic trade, cooperation, and selfreliance. The idea for a west african community goes back to president william tubman of liberia, who made the. The role of ecowas in managing political crisis and conflict the cases of guinea and guineabissau. For historical and practical reasons, west africa is an. Ecowas at 40 an assessment of progress towards regional integration. The economic community of west african states ecowas is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded in 1975. Ecowas constitutes a total landmass of 5,112,903 square miles and. Ade ajayi and michael crowder, history of west africa new. Ecowas definition of ecowas by the free dictionary. Ecowas and the dynamics of conflict and peacebuilding. Ecawa 2015 an assessment of progress towards regional integration in the ecowas 1 for west africa ecawanrec201503 original text. Basic information economic community of west african states. Ecowas treaty 1975 the economic community of west african states was established by the treaty concluded in gabon, on 28 may 1975. Structure of ecowas import equally shows the importance of the eu to west african trade position.
The role of ecowas in achieving the economic integration. Vision 2020 economic community of west african states. Before the creation of ecowas, the collective territory known as west africa, was made up of an aggregation of states that had emerged from different colonial experiences and administrations which largely defined the boundaries of the 15 states domiciled in the area. West african countries signed the treaty for an economic community of west african states treaty of lagos on 28 may 1975.
Ecodocs is a database of documents that can be accessed by member states delegates in preparation of upcoming ecowas statutory, institutional and sectoral meetings. Ecawa 2015 an assessment of progress towards regional integration in the ecowas. Economic community of west african states wikivisually. Its main goal is the promotion of the economic integration among its members. Ecowas was established to promote cooperation and integration in order to create an economic. The plenary is the highest deliberative body of the parliament. The economic community of west african states, also known as ecowas, is a regional. The economic community of west african states ecowas. Contents ii acknowledgement iii abbreviations iv 1 introduction 1 2 constraints to regional trade reform 3. The role of ecowas in managing political crisis and conflict. Ecowas has trod has come with its unique problems that have challenged the organization.
Political and economic constraints to the ecowas regional economic integration process. Collectively, these countries comprise an area of 5,114,162 km 2 1,974,589 sq mi, and in 2015 had an estimated population of over 349 million. Economic community of west african states ecowas news. It had its roots in earlier attempts at a west african economic community in the 1960s and was spearheaded by yakuba gowon of. I the treaty represents a landmark in the history of african integration in that it establishes cohesive trade relations between french and english speaking african countries among which. The basic problem to be examined in this chapter deals with the role of nigeria in establishing ecowas. Ecowas economic community of west african states ecowic ecowas investment code ecowip ecowas investment policy.
Nigeria played the key role in the intensive threeyear diplomatic activities culminating in ecowas ojo, 1980. Ecowas and the dynamics of conflict and peacebuilding testifies to the fact that we cannot talk of west african affairs, more so of conflict and peacebuilding, without talking about ecowas. The aims and objectives of ecowas as contained in article 21 is to promote cooperation and development in all the fields of economic activity, social and cultural matters for the purpose of raising the standard of living of its people, of increasing and maintaining economic stability, of. Before the creation of ecowas, the collective territory known as west africa, was made up of an aggregation of states that had emerged from different. Uncategorized economic community of west african states. Hence the numerous experiments at integration within the region, some.
The protocols launching ecowas were signed in lome, togo on 5 november 1976. Economic community of west african states wikipedia. Ecowas economic community of west african states ecowic ecowas investment code ecowip ecowas investment policy ecpf ecowas conflict prevention framework. Mohamed ibn chambas, president of the economic community of west african states ecowas commission, speaking on the role of ecowas in achieving the economic integration of west africa. Ecowas emerged on may 28 1975 at a time that the world, and africa particularly, was going through a crisis in international economic relations, manifested in falling living standards in developing countries. In may 1975, the original treaty of the economic community of west african states ecowas 1 was ratified in lagos, nigeria by 15 african heads of states. Political and economic constraints to the ecowas regional.
Chris fomunyoh, senior associate for africa and regional director for central and west africa at national democratic institute ndi, served. The role of ecowas in managing political crisis and. Ecowas affairs history and background the economic community of west african states ecowas was established on 28th may, 1975, in lagos, nigeria. Ecowas were signed in lome, togo on 5th november, 1976.