The Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is 50 years old and is possibly not at its best. Internal tensions, a lack of concrete objectives, obstacles to economic unity and the recent departure of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are challenges that weaken the organisation that sought to turn the 15 West African countries into an economic power.
It was not easy to get the presidents of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo to agree to create the organisation. It was the determination of General Yakubu Gowon, President of Nigeria, and Gnassigbé Eyadéma of Togo that succeeded. From 1972 to 1975, they worked tirelessly to convince their counterparts of the need for a body conducive to dialogue, reconciliation and economic and political unity in the region. Finally, on 28 May 1975, the treaty establishing the organisation was signed in Lagos.
Promoting regional trade, creating a common market and developing infrastructures that facilitate the economic integration of member countries were among its main objectives. As well as being able to play an important role in mediating and resolving conflicts in the region, seeking to ensure peace and security. It also wanted to support development projects in areas such as agriculture, energy, health, education and environmental protection.
The first achievement was to create a free trade area that allows the exchange of goods and services between member countries without tariffs. But it still has many pitfalls, such as the long queues that trucks transporting goods between countries have to stand, sometimes for days, at borders to be inspected by the customs services of the different countries.
It has made the mobility of people easier. Crossing borders without a passport or visa, with only an identity card, has greatly facilitated the flow of people. However, border controls are still tedious and time-consuming.
In terms of infrastructure, its star project is the construction of the Lagos-Abiyan highway, which will link the Nigerian city with the Ivorian city, passing through Benin, Togo and Ghana. It has also launched the Master Plan, which integrates a set of 201 projects in sectors such as transport, energy, telecommunications and trade liberalisation, with the aim of promoting economic integration and modernisation in the region.
Despite its good intentions, ECOWAS faces a lack of funds to implement its projects, which means that its states are highly dependent on aid from outside. Moreover, in recent years it has experienced a crisis of legitimacy due to perceived double standards in the implementation of its policies, ineffectiveness in managing political transitions and over-reliance on sanctions without adequate diplomacy. Equally, its ability to address security challenges and its poor communication with the affected population have been questioned. This is compounded by political instability, insecurity, terrorism, ineffectiveness in dealing with insurgency and the economic marginalisation of a large part of its citizens.
50 years full of challenges, which the leaders of the 13 remaining countries want to address in order to rejuvenate it.