ECOWAS Resident and Permanent Representatives Convene in Côte d’Ivoire for a 4-Day Meeting

ECOWAS Resident and Permanent Representatives Convene in Côte d’Ivoire for a 4-Day Meeting

ECOWAS Resident and Permanent Representatives are gathering in Côte d’Ivoire for a four-day meeting aimed at assessing the achievements and programmes implemented by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) across its Member States. This meeting is particularly significant as it comes on the eve of ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary.

During the meeting, the representatives will not only review past accomplishments but also discuss the future direction of ECOWAS within its Member States. This includes deliberations on how to further the mission of ECOWAS in promoting economic integration and fostering collective self-sufficiency across the West African region.

History and Mission of ECOWAS

ECOWAS was established on May 28, 1975, when the Heads of State and Governments of fifteen West African countries signed the ECOWAS Treaty in Lagos, Nigeria. The founding members included Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Togo. Cabo Verde joined the union in 1977, while Mauritania, the only Arabic-speaking member, withdrew in 2000 but signed an associate membership agreement in 2017.

Spanning an area of 5.2 million square kilometres, ECOWAS is considered one of the pillars of the African Economic Community. Its mission is to create a large trading bloc through economic cooperation, thereby promoting collective self-sufficiency for its Member States.

In 2007, the ECOWAS Secretariat was transformed into a Commission, which is now headed by a President, supported by a Vice President, thirteen Commissioners, and an Auditor-General. This leadership team is tasked with implementing strategic programmes aimed at deepening regional cohesion and progressively eliminating barriers to full integration.

Vision for the Future

ECOWAS is working towards a new vision, moving from an “ECOWAS of States” to an “ECOWAS of the People,” with the goal of achieving peace and prosperity for all by 2050. This vision aims to ensure that the estimated 300 million citizens of the community actively participate in and benefit from the region’s economic and social integration.

The headquarters of ECOWAS is located in Abuja, Nigeria.