Highs and lows of ECOWAS @50

ECOWAS is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of regional cooperation, economic integration and collective progress across West Africa. ECOWAS was founded on May 28, 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos by 15 West African nations. Over the years, ECOWAS has played a crucial role in trade, security, democracy, and development within the region.

In a keynote address, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, called on West African leaders to uphold and pass on the vision of the founding fathers of the ECOWAS.

Speaking on Wednesday at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, the President urged leaders to look beyond the artificial borders created by colonialists and embrace one another as a family.

SPONSOR AD

President Tinubu noted that the founding fathers foresaw a more united, harmonious, and purpose-driven regional bloc that would benefit many generations.

“Today, we celebrate not only five decades of history but the enduring spirit of unity, resilience, and shared destiny that defines our Community. In 1975, our founding leaders envisioned a West Africa where borders unite rather than divide — a region of free movement, thriving trade, and peaceful coexistence. That vision is still alive”.

President Tinubu paid tribute to all who have nurtured the idea of ECOWAS, especially General Yakubu Gowon, the only surviving founding father.

The President said the regional bloc has lived up to the founders’ expectations in many respects, including peacekeeping, trade liberalisation, free movement of citizens, and working together to tackle security issues and global pandemics.

However, he emphasised the need for more vigorous policy implementation and urged member states to ensure citizens feel the tangible benefits of integration

“Let us imagine a West Africa where no child is denied the opportunity because of where they are born; where our borders are zones of cooperation, not conflict; where our economies thrive through joint effort; and where our people, diverse yet bound by destiny, walk together toward peace, prosperity, and justice, he said.

‘We want AES back’

Also speaking, the only surviving founding father of ECOWAS, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, said Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso’s departures were not healthy for regional progress and development.

“Our sister nations that decided to leave will, in time, realise the bonds of culture. And with goodwill and sincere intention, they will find their way back.

“I am very encouraged to see the effort of the government, ministers, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the President. The President has constantly been working with the groups, and I hope they will convince them to return.

“Continue to be open, and don’t push them away. They will come back as individuals or as a group,” he said.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, noted that ECOWAS has become a shining example as Africa’s oldest and most active regional bloc.

The highs and lows

ECOWAS has made some landmark achievements in some areas in the last 50 years. Daily Trust has highlighted some of its most significant actions over the last five decades:

ECOWAS introduced the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Residence, and Establishment in 1979, which allows citizens of member states to travel freely within the region without requiring visas.

This protocol has been quite successful. Citizens of member states can now move freely and stay for 90 days at first instance without visa requirements. This has helped exponentially the movement of goods, services and people, leading to increased trade and commerce among the states of the sub-region.

Another important achievement was the creation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS). The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) is a free trade initiative designed to promote economic integration among member states. The ETLS was established to eliminate trade barriers and promote regional commerce, making it easier for businesses to operate across borders.

It aims to eliminate customs duties, tariffs, and non-tariff barriers to facilitate seamless trade across the region.

The ETLS has boosted intra-regional trade by making it easier for businesses to operate across borders, encouraged industrialisation by supporting local manufacturers and strengthened economic cooperation among ECOWAS member states.

More so, the formation of the ECOWAS Parliament in 2000 is seen as a masterstroke. The ECOWAS Parliament is the legislative arm of the ECOWAS. It serves as a platform for regional integration, allowing representatives from member states to discuss and shape policies that impact the West African region.

It was created to enhance democratic governance and regional cooperation, with each ECOWAS member state sending delegates to the Parliament, ensuring diverse perspectives.

While it currently has an advisory function, efforts are underway to expand its law-making powers.

Besides, the introduction of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff in 2015, a regional trade policy designed to harmonise customs duties across member states of the ECOWAS, has helped to create a unified market, making trade within the region more efficient while applying a standard tariff system to goods imported from outside ECOWAS.

The CET supports ECOWAS’ goal of creating a single market, making trade more predictable and reducing barriers. It includes anti-dumping, safeguard, and countervailing measures to protect local industries.

In the area of peace and security, ECOWAS has taken some bold decisions that have helped improve peace in the region. It has deployed peacekeeping forces to resolve conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali.

ECOWAS had worked assiduously in tackling insurgency and subversive activities of rebel groups in Liberia and Sierra Leone through the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) initiative. This flexible peacekeeping and peace enforcement intervention, with the cooperation and contribution of member states, helped restore peace and normalcy in these two states, which drew commendation from across the world.

Additionally, the establishment of the ECOWAS Court of Justice in 2001 was generally seen as a very important step to address human rights abuse within the region. The ECOWAS Court of Justice is the judicial arm of the regional bloc. It was established to ensure the interpretation and application of ECOWAS laws and treaties, as well as to protect human rights within the region.

Created under Articles 6 and 15 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty, it handles cases related to human rights violations, disputes between ECOWAS institutions, and legal interpretations of ECOWAS regulations.

In the area of health, ECOWAS has stood out especially in the management and control of the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and COVID-19 in 2020.

During the West African Ebola outbreak (2013-2016), ECOWAS played a crucial role in coordinating regional efforts to combat the epidemic. It was the first organisation to officially recognise Ebola as a security threat in March 2014, prompting urgent action.

ECOWAS worked with WHO, the UN, and humanitarian organisations to mobilise resources and medical personnel and developed a regional recovery strategy, focusing on healthcare, food security, and economic stability.

ECOWAS’ swift response helped contain the spread of Ebola in West Africa, strengthened regional health systems to improve future epidemic responses and facilitated international partnerships for long-term recovery efforts.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ECOWAS stepped up to play a crucial role in coordinating regional efforts to combat the virus, ensuring that West African nations had the necessary support to manage the crisis.

It developed a regional strategy to guide member states in handling the pandemic effectively. Through the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), ECOWAS distributed COVID-19 test kits, PPEs, and medical equipment worth over $18 million to member states.

ECOWAS also mobilised funds from international partners, including the UNDP, GIZ, and the European Union, to assist member states in their pandemic response.

Ultimately, the ECOWAS Electoral Support Missions have played a crucial role in promoting democracy, good governance, and credible elections across West Africa. These missions are designed to assist member states in conducting free, fair, and transparent elections.

Through this initiative, ECOWAS deploys short-term and long-term election observers to monitor electoral processes in member states, provides funding and expertise to support electoral commissions in organising elections, organises training programmes for electoral officials to enhance their ability to conduct credible elections, and works to prevent electoral violence and ensure peaceful transitions of power.

These landmark achievements notwithstanding, many analysts believe that ECOWAS has failed to roll back the tidal wave of military coups in some of the member countries namely Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Observers believe this was all down to the approach adopted by ECOWAS in emphasising military intervention with the military juntas of those states rather than constructive dialogue to bring about the desired goal of restoring civil democratic order. This approach has invariably hardened the resolve of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, leading to their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2025 and the establishment of the Association of Sahel States (AEL) as a counter to ECOWAS.

Also, experts have called into question the heavy dependence on finances from the Western world, especially France. It is believed that this has increased their influence in the decisions and actions of the regional body.