Economic Community of West African States

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African organization established by the Treaty of Lagos in May 1975 to promote economic trade, cooperation, and self-reliance. The organization seeks to harmonize agricultural policies and to facilitate the free movement of peoples, services, and capital between members. The original 15 members were Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso). Cape Verde joined in 1977. The headquarters for ECOWAS is located in Abuja, Nigeria.

ECOWAS contains four specialized commissions: (1) trading, customs, immigration, and monetary payments; (2) industry, agriculture, and natural resources; (3) transportation, telecommunications, and energy; (4) social and cultural affairs.

Over the years, some members have departed the organization. In December 1999 Mauritania announced that it would leave ECOWAS, citing the country’s disagreement with the organization’s recent decisions about a common currency. Per ECOWAS guidelines, Mauritania submitted its intention to withdraw one year in advance of its exit. The country’s departure was finalized on December 26, 2000. In January 2024 Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—three countries that had experienced coups in recent years, were ruled by military juntas, and had been suspended from ECOWAS—announced they were withdrawing from the organization and submitted their official notice. The withdrawal of the three countries officially took effect on January 29, 2025, though ECOWAS extended a six-month transitional period in case they reconsidered their decision to leave.