The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently celebrated the completion of forty-nine years since their establishment on 28 May, 1975. It is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries of West Africa. Collectively, the countries comprise an area of about 1,974,589 square miles and have an estimated population of over 424.34 million. The union was established on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos with its stated mission to promote economic integration across the region. A revised version of this treaty was agreed and signed on 24 July 1993 in Cotonou, Benin.
The creation of ECOWAS drew attention all over the world because of its fundamental principles- reliance on equity, inter-dependence, solidarity, co-operation, nonaggression, regional peace, promotion of human rights and economic and social justice.
In 2024, matters within ECOWAS became slightly awkward with the withdrawal of three of its Members- Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. The countries had earlier been suspended from ECOWAS due to military takeovers of their respective governments. This decision revealed growing fissures within the ECOWAS. This has been carefully discussed within the ECOWAS and they have observed that such a scenario is unnecessary because they are a community based on solidarity. In this context, Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS met in Abuja, Nigeria on July 7, 2024. This has been identified as a challenge that has to be overcome.
It has been generally agreed that leaving ECOWAS is not the best answer. The countries intend to pull out talk about their Pan-African ambitions and other things, but they also realize that the basis of Pan-Africanism is integration. Consequently, ECOWAS as an Organization also underlines for all the Members that disintegration will not promote Pan-Africanism.
It may be mentioned that due to their comparative success in promoting economic integration in the region, this regional bloc is now able to boast significant successes in integration, peace and security and good governance. At the same time, it is also being acknowledged by the Members that the regional effort is now facing some challenges.
Analyst K. Ighobor has pointed out that ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, participated in a high-level event at the UN headquarters in New York in June 2024- focusing on regional unity, peace and security in West Africa. In an interview with Kingsley Ighobor following the event, Ambassador Musah, speaking on behalf of ECOWAS, highlighted the organization’s achievements and challenges, as well as ongoing efforts to strengthen integration.
Interestingly, it was pointed out that the achievements of ECOWAS over the last 49 years can be encapsulated through one key point- they have transitioned from creating an Organization to building a community. One may wish that the dynamic undertaken by ECOWAS had been replicated in South Asia by SAARC. Unfortunately, this has not happened.
It has also been observed that ECOWAS was created when the Cold War was at its very height. The only possible area for people to come together and find common ground was economic integration, not political or ideological. In this regard, the Protocol on the free movement of persons, goods and services (1976) permitted citizens the right of abode in any Member State. This was a very difficult factor within the agreed paradigm. However, slowly, according to Kingsley Ighobor, it became an ECOWAS calling card over the years. This was a major achievement as people in West Africa do not have to think about a visa when they cross borders within the region. This was a significant denominator as there was a lot of turmoil in Africa during the post-Cold War period.
It is now recognized that without ECOWAS the whole region could have been engulfed in fratricidal wars. One can recall that a a war started in Liberia towards the end of 1989 and continued throughout the 1990s, spreading to Sierra Leone and affecting Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire.
Consequently, the ECOWAS region can be proud of the fact that ECOWAS is now a trademark, a pioneer in regional integration within the difficult geo-stability that currently exists within Africa in some other sub-regions. This process of salvation has been facilitated through ECOWAS creating its multilateral armed forces- the Economic Community of West African States Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), that is permitted to intervene for restoring stability in any part of its region. Such a facilitating process, since its creation has enabled the providing of a soft landing for the United Nations peacekeepers who come in subsequently. After this comes the subject of economic integration.
ECOWAS has had quite a few achievements pertaining to economic integration. It does not relate to just the free movement of persons. They have moved forward in many dimensions. ECOWAS has taken necessary steps about creating a common market for the region. It is also helping Member countries develop infrastructure—energy, internet connectivity, and building road networks across the region.
However, challenges appeared during the 1990s -characterized by civil wars and implosion of States. This resulted in ECOWAS giving deeper attention to security matters and good governance. As a result of this, it has become apparent that today, the values of democracy and human rights are more entrenched in West African culture, and ECOWAS is part and parcel of that process. West Africa is the only region in Africa that does not have an open, high-intensity conflict, despite the activities of Violent Extremist Groups. This has become a source of pride for the ECOWAS region. ECOWAS is now also not only a trademark, a pioneer in regional integration on the continent but also provides a lot of the basis for the African Union’s frameworks. ECOWAS in this regard has transformed from an economic bloc into both an economic and political union.
One has to admit that such an approach needs to be monitored by the rest of Africa. It is also important to note that a Member country cannot just decide one day to withdraw from ECOWAS. There are procedures to follow, in accordance with Article 91 of the ECOWAS Treaty. This enables the creation of several diplomatic engagements that are undertaken behind the scenes to keep the ECOWAS bloc united.
This approach was reflected in how ECOWAS held its extraordinary summit in February 2024 and lifted the severe sanctions against Niger. It was further encouraged by Members to return to the Community. It was also underlined that there are advantages of being together which far overshadow the disadvantages.
This has also been explained to Kingsley Ighobor by Ambassador Musah by drawing his attention to the fact of how ECOWAS’ free movement of people, goods and services are important. Apparently, about 10 million citizens of these countries are spread across the region. 4.5 million Burkinabe citizens also live in Côte d’Ivoire alone. Consequently, if some countries within this matrix withdraw from ECOWAS, the status of their citizens will change dramatically. They will have to regularize their stay, and those who cannot regularize will need to return to their countries.
Within the ECOWAS region, there is another important aspect. There is mostly production of meat products and vegetables by many countries but they get energy and many manufactured goods from the other countries with virtually no tariffs attached. This is significant. Many analysts from outside West Africa have pointed out that the values of democracy and human rights are very much embedded in West African culture.
It is in this context that ECOWAS has reached a consensus that the most effective way of combating violent extremism is by sharing intelligence and cross-border military cooperation. The latest meeting has reiterated correctly that no Member State should withdraw from ECOWAS. It has also been underlined that any withdrawal will neither be good for the Member State nor for ECOWAS because in international diplomacy today, strength lies in numbers. It has also been correctly observed that if all the Members remain, then its influence in international diplomacy will be greater. If they leave, ECOWAS will be weakened and not be recognized as an institution of solidarity.
On the other hand, it will be treated with greater respect by the United Nations and other institutions if there is solidarity and unity. This will, according to ECOWAS, also strengthen the ability of Member States to obtain important positions in international organizations.
This is a feature that most
unfortunately is not present in our part of South Asia or within the Middle East matrix.
Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador, is an analyst specialized in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance, can be reached at <muhammadzamir0@gmail.com>
