SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

I. Presentation of ECOWAS........................................................................................... 3

1. ECOWAS: a creation by the will of the Heads of State.

2. The goals and principles of ECOWAS ................................................................ 3

II. Structure and functioning of ECOWAS ................................................................ 4

1. The main organs and institutions of ECOWAS.................................................. 4

2. The other bodies and institutions ................................................................................... 5

III. Strengths and weaknesses of ECOWAS

Many assets in the ECOWAS area ............................................................... 6

2. The commendable achievements of ECOWAS................................................................ 7

3. Many deficiencies......................................................................................... 8

CONCLUSION

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 INTRODUCTION

Upon gaining independence, African states are fragmented and fragile. Aware of
their weaknesses, those of West Africa decide to put their potential together and
to regroup within a sub-regional organization. Thus was created, on May 28, 1975, in
Lagos, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

How is it presented? How is it organized? And what are its strengths and weaknesses?
shortcomings?

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 I. Presentation of ECOWAS

ECOWAS: a creation by the will of the Heads of State.

- The idea of creating a West African union was proposed in 1968 in Ghana.
by the President of Liberia, Williams TOLBERT.

- This idea was taken up by the Heads of State of Nigeria and Togo in 1972.

- Finally, it was on May 28, 1975 that ECOWAS was born in Lagos, Nigeria, at the initiative
from 16 states, all from West Africa. However, Mauritania will withdraw from the organization
in 1999.

ECOWAS, with an area of about 5.1 million square kilometers and a population of more than
300 million inhabitants, has fifteen (15) member states, distributed by linguistic area
as follows:

2. The objectives and principles of ECOWAS

Ø Objectives aimed at sub-regional integration.

Main objective: subregional integration through cooperation and the creation of a union
economic of West Africa in order to:

✓ to raise the standard of living of its peoples,

✓ maintain and increase economic stability,

✓ strengthen the relations between the member states

✓ contribute to the development of the African continent.

Ø Specific objectives:

✓ the removal of customs barriers between member states,

✓ the free movement of people, goods, and capital

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✓ the creation of a common currency,

✓ the construction of regional road and telecommunications infrastructure,

✓ the harmonization of agricultural, industrial and energy policies.

Ø Principles of peace and good governance.

✓ the equality and interdependence of member states,

✓ the non-aggression between member states,

✓ the promotion and consolidation of a democratic system of government in

✓ the peaceful settlement of disputes between member states.

II. Structure and functioning of ECOWAS

1. The main organs and institutions of ECOWAS

The governing bodies are:

Ø The Conference of Heads of State and Government.

It is the supreme decision-making body.

✓ She provides general guidelines and ensures the smooth operation of the organization.

✓ It meets once a year and the President is elected for one year.

✓ The current President of the conference has been since June 30, 2019, the president of the

Republic of NIGER, Mr. Issoufou MAHAMADOU.

Ø The Council of Ministers

✓ He is preparing the conference of Heads of State and Government.

✓ It brings together the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and holds its meetings twice a year.

✓ He ensures the implementation of the decisions made by the Heads of State.

Ø The Commission

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✓ She ensures the daily administration of the organization.

✓ His mandate is appointed by the Conference of Heads of State and Government for 4
ans.

✓ The current president of the Commission is the Ivorian, Jean Claude BROU.

2. The other organs and institutions

They are divided into legislative, judicial, economic, social, and environmental bodies.

Ø The parliament of the community.

✓ It was created in 2006 and is made up of 120 representatives from the different states.
members.

✓ He is responsible for legislating on uniform laws.

✓ He may address any question regarding the Community, particularly in matters of

Ø The Court of Justice of the Community

✓ She ensures compliance with treaties and settles disputes between member states.
in front of him.

✓ The citizens of the community victims of human rights violations can it

Ø The economic, social, and environmental council.

It is an advisory body, composed of the professional social groups of the member states.

Ø The community investment and development bank.

✓ It finances development projects and serves for compensation and compassion through
continuation of the establishment of joint ventures.

✓ It helps member countries to regulate their development lag.

✓ Its head office is in Lomé, Togo.

Ø The technical commissions

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There are several technical committees, the main ones being:

✓ the West African Health Organization

✓ the West African electronic energy exchange system

✓ the water resources coordination unit,

✓ the West African monetary agency.

III. strengths and weaknesses of ECOWAS

Many strengths in the ECOWAS area

Ø Important natural assets

A basement rich in mineral resources:

West Africa has become the leading gold mining region ahead of South Africa. Besides
Gold, the sub-region provides 10% of manganese, 8% of bauxite, and 7% of global uranium.
It holds one third (30%) of the oil and natural gas reserves of the black continent.
ECOWAS is a net exporter of hydrocarbons, with 2.3 million barrels per day.
from Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.

This abundance of mineral and oil resources places the region at the heart of the issues.
geostrategic.

The climatic diversity (sub-equatorial, tropical, Sahelian) allows for a variety of crops. Thus,
the primary sector dominates the economy in most countries. Agriculture represents the
economic engine of the West African states, as it employs 75% of the population
rural and contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of countries. The situation
Geographic and climatic factors allow for water resources (hydrography and long coastline)
oceanic) to develop exchanges with the outside and fishing activities.

In human terms, with a population of over 300 million inhabitants, ECOWAS is a

On the level of economic policy.

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ECOWAS has financial institutions for the development of projects in the countries.
members. Examples: the ECOWAS Investment and Development Bank
(BIDC); the West African Monetary Institution (WAMI), the Monetary Agency of
West Africa (ECOWAS); ECOBANK, a dynamic commercial bank at the scale
regional.

2. The notable achievements of ECOWAS.

➢ Political and military actions:

✓ free movement of people (ECOWAS card, ECOWAS driving license), of

✓ condemnation of unconstitutional regimes, particularly coups d'état, each

✓ military interventions by ECOMOG (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Guinea)

➢ Achievements in the economic field:

✓ construction of transport infrastructure, improvement of telephone connections;

✓ establishment of a common agricultural project (ADRAO Rice project);

✓ facilitation of intracommunity trade and monetary exchanges;

✓ industrial production with the support of a community bank, the West bank
African Development Bank (BOAD).

➢ Socio-cultural and environmental activities:

- organization of sports activities (UFOA in football) and cultural activities (Miss ECOWAS),

- project of the "green belt" consisting of planting trees against the advancement of
desert.

The achievements of ECOWAS are numerous; however, there are limitations.

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 3. Many shortcomings.

➢ A political instability related to:

✓ the weak democratic governance of the states (Guinea, Niger, Guinea-Bissau…)

✓ the lack of anticipation of post-electoral crises (Togo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,

✓ attempts at coups d'état (more than 25 between 1990 and 2019). Examples: Guinea, in
December 2008, by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara; Ivory Coast, in December 1999, by
General Robert GUEI; Burkina Faso, in September 2015, by General DIENDERE; etc.

➢ A chronic insecurity related to:

✓ the rise of terrorist movements (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria…)

✓ lack of effectiveness of ECOMOG against terrorist movements (Mali, Burkina)

➢ Some obstacles to free movement still observed in certain countries.

➢ The emphasis on the sovereignty of states on quite a few subjects.

➢ A hegemonic struggle (Ivory Coast / Nigeria, English-speaking group / group

➢ Structural economic weaknesses:

✓ economies largely dependent on cash crop agriculture (which is subject to fluctuations of

✓ low industrialization of West African economies;

✓ general externalization of economies (economies reliant on the outside)

✓ inequalities in the levels of development between countries;

✓ multiplicity of currencies in the region:

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- currency convertibility issues, which hinder commercial exchanges;

- delay in the implementation of the common currency called ECO;

Economic governance problem:

- widespread corruption in business circles;

- delay in the contributions of the Member States;

- weakness of intra-regional exchanges, etc.

➢ Social and cultural boundaries:

✓ pauperization of numerous populations, a large part of which are illiterate;

✓ difficult access to basic socio-economic infrastructures (drinking water, hospitals,

✓ insufficiency or lack of communication infrastructure;

✓ chronic unemployment of many young people and illegal emigration;

✓ language barriers between peoples (Francophone / Anglophone / Lusophone).

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 CONCLUSION

ECOWAS is one of the most important organizations in Africa. Despite its weaknesses.
structural and security-wise, it is one of the best sub-regional integration spaces
organized on the continent. The introduction of its own common currency, the option for
the industry as a driver of its economic growth, in a secure environment and
of peace, will help boost development and raise the standard of living for its people.

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