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. Customs union is the second stage in the formation of regional integration. Formation of the eu and ascension of members into the community may have. While nigerias role as leader in the process of forming ecowas is generally acknowledged, no systematic analysis exists of the nature of nigerias role nor of. Reasons for ecowas formation project writers nigeria. Its main goal is the promotion of the economic integration among its members. Economic community of west african states wikipedia. Ecowas integrated maritime strategy ecowas integrated maritime strategy eims background. In 1975, 15 of the 16 countries in west africa got together and formed the economic. In april 2002, the ecowas council of ministers com approved a new procedure. Summaries of the treaty are to be found in legum, colin, ed. It had its roots in earlier attempts at a west african economic community in the 1960s and was spearheaded by yakuba gowon of.
Richard alkali in this writeup takes a look at the motives behind its formation and how far those motives have. Objectives, achievements, challenges and opportunities. Contents ii acknowledgement iii abbreviations iv 1 introduction 1 2 constraints to regional trade reform 3. Ecowas, the african union au and france, and military intervention by the united nations. The economic community of west african states ecowas is a regional organisation of 15 west african countries established on 28 may 1975. Cote divoire is the top performer on regional integration but only represents 6% of regional gdp. The role of the economic community of west african states. The history of the economic community of west african states began on 28th of may 1975. Formed in 2000, the west african monetary zone wamz is a group of six. Even after elections were finally held in 2010, disputes around the electoral results led to violence and human rights violations and brought the country. The economic community of west african statesecowas maritime domain emd comprises the adjacent atlantic ocean, islands, estuaries, lagoons, archipelagos, deltas, wetlands, creeks, coral reefs, mangrove forests, sandy. The economic community of west african states, known as ecowas, is a union formed by most of the countries in west africa. Ecowas and the functions of each level in the hierarchy.
Indeed, ecowas is one the five regional pillars of the african economic community aec. Ecowas were signed in lome, togo on 5th november, 1976. Richard alkali in this writeup takes a look at the motives behind its formation and how far those motives have been achieved. The gains derived from integration and the hope of fast tracking the prospect motivated this study. Ecowas at 40 an assessment of progress towards regional integration in west africa content.
Treaty of economic community of west african states, art. Ecowas was created to increase economic and political amongst its members. Regional integration and nontariff measures in the economic. 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. Ecowas has been designated one of the five regional pillars of the african economic community aec. Today, the establishment of a functioning common market is among ecowas top priorities. The economic community of west african states ecowas is a regional grouping of sixteen west african countries founded on may 28, 1975, to promote. To adapt to the changes that had taken place within the community since its formation, and based on its experience in liberia, the authority of ecowas heads of state and. Progress with ecowasmany steering committee meetingsecpf, reporting template, consolidation of cooperation, web portal with development partners thematic group peace and security, danida, giz, osiwa, undpthe creation of a mapping toolmapping exercisethe recruitment of a consultant to assess the ecpf achievements andplan for 2017 and beyond through the support of giz. Ecowas affairs history and background the economic community of west african states ecowas was established on 28th may, 1975, in lagos, nigeria.
The role of ecowas in managing political crisis and conflict. Political and economic constraints to the ecowas regional. However, this study seeks to find out the nigerias role in the formation of a ecowas a regional organization formed in west africa. Protocols economic community of west african states. Nigeria and the formation of ecowas cambridge core. The study found that achievements were recorded in sensitization efforts, treaties. In july, 1993, a revised ecowas treaty designed to accelerate economic integration and to increase political cooperation, was signed. Page 5 thelma ekiyor, ecowas conflict prevention framework ecpf a new approach to an old challenge.
The economic community of west african states ecowas. The role of ecowas in managing political crisis and. The economic community of west african states ecowas at a. The economic community of west african states ecowas is a regional grouping of sixteen west african countries founded on may 28, 1975, to promote cooperation and integration through the establishment of an economic union in west africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, foster relations among member.
The ecowas charter deals primarily with economic integration and cooperation. Despite its economic shortcomings, ecowas had one notable success. Nigerias role in the formation of a regional organization. Ecowas was established to promote cooperation and integration in order to create an economic and monetary union for promoting economic growth and development in west africa. People, goods and services travel around the countries with ease. The idea for a west african community goes back to president william tubman of liberia, who made the call in 1964.
While this may be an overstatement, the formation of ecowas was initially spearheaded by nigeria and was. The economic community of west african states ecowas is a regional economic community with a surface area of 3. These formed the basis for the emergence of the treaty of lagos in 1975 which birthed ecowas. The treaty of lagos was initially limited to economic cooperation but emerging political events led to its revision and expansion of scope of cooperation in 1993. The economic community of west african states, also known as ecowas, is a regional. The political and security challenges facing ecowas in the. Ecowas at 40 an assessment of progress towards regional integration in west africa. Statement of problem the aims and objectives of ecowas as contained in article 21 is to promote cooperation and development in all the fields of.
The high contracting parties, by this treaty, hereby reaffirm the establishment of the economic community of west african states. Column economic community of west africa states ecowas has existed for 33 years. Extractive industries transparency initiative eiti and the formation of a. Division of education economic community of west african. Due to geographical reason, nations that locate in same regions will affect each other in any of their decision making. Political and economic constraints to the ecowas regional economic integration process. By providing a conceptual framework for prevention, the ecpf clarifies ecowas approach and the raison detre for prevention. Assessment of nigerias role in the development of economic. It is a fact of history that nigeria played a prominent role in the formation of the economic community of west african states ecowas. The main aim of the community is to promote economic cooperation between all the states with the goal of raising living standards among the population as well as increasing the economic strength of each member state. Achievements of ecowas since its establishment legit.
Nigeria is manifestly the strongest member adepoju, 2005. The state of peace is kept by ecowas monitoring groups. The study is a legal history of the ecowas as an international organization. Available formats pdf please select a format to send. History economic community of west african statesecowas. Ecowas integrated maritime strategy eims download pdf. This paper assesses whether ecowas since its formation nearly forty years ago and more than one decade into the new millennium has achieved the twin goals of ensuring political stability and the security and integrity of its member countries states assist charter sought.
Before the formation of ecowas, there was no existence of telephone inter connectivity between the member states as phones were basically routed first from europe and connected to countries in west africa. 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. Thelma ekiyor, ecowas conflict prevention framework ecpf a new approach to an old challenge. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The idea for a west african community goes back to president william tubman of liberia, who made the. The economic community of west african states ecowas, africas flagship regional economic community, deserves credit for surviving myriad political, security and socioeconomic distractions and remaining focused on the principal goal of its founding fathers. Ecowas was also established to promote trade liberalization. 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. Customs union common external tariff is a major feature of the customs union. Ecowas economic community of west african states united.
Ecowas has enabled west africans to easily move among the west african countries. The political and security challenges facing ecowas in. An analysis and prospects by bruce zagaris the treaty of lagos, creating the economic community of west african states ecowas, represents the latest attempt in economic integration and regional development among west african states. The initial treaty was signed by the heads of states and governments of the then 16 member states in 1975 in lagos, nigeria. The economic community of west african states was established by the treaty of lagos signed by fifteen west african heads of state and government of in may 28, 1975. Regional integration, trade facilitation and development in. Nigeria and the formation of ecowas international organization. On this date, the heads of fifteen independent countries created a united space to aid the development of their respective regions.
Reasons for ecowas formation project writers nigeria hire. The treaty of lagos was originally touted as an economic. Treaty economic community of west african statesecowas. Ecowas common external tariff cet as presented by assistant comptroller of customs anthony ayalogu anthony ayalogu nigeria customs service 1.
Ojo the inauguration of ecowasi in lagos on 28 may 1975 has been hailed as a breakthrough2 in the long series of efforts to institute some form of economic cooperation and integration embracing the entire west african subregion. The economic community of west african states ecowas treaty is a multilateral agreement signed by the member states that made up the economic community of west african states. Its military arm, the economic community of west african states military observer group ecomog, restored peace and stability to liberia. Liberia endured a violent, sevenyear civil war as a result of a 1989 attempt by rebels to overthrow the. Ecowas economic community of west african states ecowic ecowas investment code ecowip ecowas investment policy ecpf ecowas conflict prevention framework ecreee ecowas centre for renewable energy. 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. 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. Ecowas member states now have an effective and efficient telephony network that directly connects all the west african countries. An analysis and prospects by bruce zagaris the treaty of lagos, creating the economic community of west african states ecowas, represents the latest attempt in economic integration and. Even after elections were finally held in 2010, disputes around the electoral results led to violence and human rights violations and brought the country to the brink of another brutal civil war. Ecowas though formed in1975 is still confronted with infancy challenges but have recorded moderates gains that this study intend to examine with a view of recommending how these could be consolidated. Economic community of west africa states ecowas has existed for 33 years. Nigeria and the formation of ecowas volume 34 issue 4 olatunde j.
Next, the institutions for which the treaty provides and the corresponding substantive areas of the agreement are. The economic community of west african states ecowas was created by the treaty of lagos in lagos, nigeria, on may, 28, 1975. Ojo skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. This article discusses the role of nigeria in the formation of economic community of west african states ecowas. Regional integration and nontariff measures in the. 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. Nigerias role in the process of forming ecowas is of interest for two reasons.