The **Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)** is a regional political and economic union comprising 12 member states in West Africa, established on 28 May 1975 through the signing of the Treaty of Lagos.[1] With a combined area of over 5.1 million square kilometers and a population exceeding 424 million people, ECOWAS represents one of Africa's most significant regional integration initiatives.[1] ## Mission and Core Objectives ECOWAS operates with an ambitious mandate to achieve "collective self-sufficiency" among member states by creating a unified trade bloc and full economic and trading union.[1] The organization promotes economic integration across all sectors—including industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, and commerce—while raising living standards and fostering economic development.[2] Its founding principles emphasize equality, solidarity, cooperation, human rights promotion, and democratic governance.[1] ## Institutional Framework and Achievements The organization functions through four main institutions: the Commission, the Community Parliament, the Community Court of Justice, and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.[2] These bodies implement policies and execute development projects including intra-community infrastructure, telecommunications networks, and agricultural initiatives.[2] In 1990, ECOWAS established a free trade area, followed by adopting a common external tariff in January 2015.[3] Additionally, the organization developed a peacekeeping force to address regional security challenges.[3] ## Current Status and Challenges As of January 29, 2025, ECOWAS faced a significant crisis when Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formally withdrew from the bloc, marking the most substantial rupture since its founding.[5][6] These three nations, governed by military juntas, established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023, citing