About Economic Community of West African States:
- It is also known as CEDEAO in French.
- It is the regional group which was established in 1975 through the Lagos Treaty.
- Mandate: Promoting economic integration among its members.
- The vision of ECOWAS is the creation of a “borderless region” that is well-integrated and governed in accordance with the principles of democracy, rule of law and good governance.
- Members: Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’ Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.
- ECOWAS’ larger aims are to have a single common currency and create a single, large trading bloc in areas of industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, financial issues, and social and cultural matters.
- Along with the goals of economic cooperation, it has attempted to quell military conflicts in the region.
- It also operated a regional peacekeeping operation known as ECOMOG, led by Nigeria in the 1990s and early 2000s.
- Headquarters: Abuja, Nigeria.
