Last week, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, returned to the National Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island, Lagos—the birthplace of ECOWAS—to lead the 50th anniversary celebrations of the regional body.
However, ECOWAS marks this milestone amid significant existential challenges. Once a symbol of unity and post-independence optimism, the bloc is now deeply fragmented by political discord and ideological divergence among its member states. Formed in 1975 through the Treaty of Lagos, ECOWAS was envisioned as a platform for regional cooperation, economic integration, and peace. Its founding principles included mutual respect, equality, non-aggression, solidarity, and the peaceful resolution of disputes—values now under threat.
During its prime, ECOWAS showcased leadership and strength, particularly through Nigeria’s commitment. The ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), largely funded and led by Nigeria, played a pivotal role in ending brutal civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and also intervened in Côte d’Ivoire. Back then, ECOWAS projected the best of West African resilience and unity.
Today, that leadership has waned. Nigeria, once the pillar of ECOWAS, struggles with internal insecurity—from insurgents to separatists—and finds its armed forces overstretched and weakened. As Nigeria falters, so too does ECOWAS.
The bloc’s inability to uphold a robust peer review system or enforce democratic norms has weakened its credibility. Instead of promoting true sovereignty and regional integration akin to the European Union, many ECOWAS leaders have aligned themselves with foreign powers. This erosion of democratic standards contributed to the return of military regimes in Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, and even Gabon.
Under Tinubu’s leadership, ECOWAS nearly embarked on a military intervention in Niger Republic to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum—an ill-fated plan that highlighted the bloc’s lack of cohesion. The aftermath saw Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger withdraw from ECOWAS and form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), deepening the fragmentation.
At 50, ECOWAS is arguably weaker than it was at its founding. The dream of integration and solidarity has been undermined by poor governance, disregard for foundational principles, and a failure to adapt to modern challenges.
Rebuilding ECOWAS requires more than ceremonial gatherings. It demands a recommitment to unity, the eradication of terrorism and insurgency across the region, and the pursuit of economic integration, including the long-envisioned common currency. The European Union remains a benchmark—one ECOWAS must strive to emulate.
A revitalised ECOWAS can once again be a driving force for West Africa—and perhaps, the key to achieving the long-desired unity of the African continent.
