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.

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. It was the first time in the organization’s history that countries had requested to leave. Per ECOWAS guidelines, they submitted their intention to withdraw one year in advance of their exit. ECOWAS approved their withdrawal in December 2024, and the three countries were set to depart the organization on January 29, 2025, though ECOWAS extended a six-month transitional period in case they reconsidered their decision to leave.