By Dr. Michael Omoruyi | Publisher, iNewsAfrica | May 28, 2025
As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks its 50th anniversary, celebrations of regional unity are overshadowed by internal fractures, political instability, and rising nationalism that challenge the bloc’s founding ideals.
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ECOWAS celebrates 50 years since its founding in 1975.
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The bloc faces a historic crisis as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have withdrawn.
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Military coups, economic struggles, and waning public trust threaten regional cohesion.
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Leaders call for reinvention and resilience to safeguard the future of West African integration.
Abuja, Nigeria — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), once hailed as the most promising example of African regional integration, commemorates its 50th anniversary amid a sobering reality: the vision of a united West Africa is faltering under the weight of internal discord, military takeovers, and deepening socioeconomic divides.
Founded on 28 May 1975, with the dream of fostering economic cooperation and regional peace, ECOWAS now faces its gravest test. In the past two years, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—each led by military juntas—have withdrawn from the bloc, citing ECOWAS’s punitive stance against unconstitutional regime changes. These exits signal a tectonic shift in the region’s political alignment and threaten the foundational principle of collective solidarity.
While commemorative events and speeches across member states are calling attention to the achievements of ECOWAS—such as visa-free travel, regional peacekeeping, and trade facilitation—the cracks in its foundation are widening.
“This anniversary should be a moment of reflection, not just celebration,” remarked Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, ECOWAS Commission President. “We must ask ourselves: what kind of community are we building when unity is being undermined from within?”
Critics argue that the bloc has struggled to adapt to the evolving political realities in the region, including the rise of jihadist insurgencies, youth disillusionment, and shifting alliances with global powers such as Russia and China. The ECOWAS standby force, long considered a symbol of its resolve, has been largely absent in recent crises.
Meanwhile, civil society voices and pan-African activists are urging the organization to return to its grassroots purpose—fostering inclusive development, democratic governance, and people-first policies. There is growing consensus that the future of ECOWAS hinges on deep reforms, beyond the high-level diplomacy and summitry that have defined its recent years.
Despite the fractures, the spirit of regionalism has not been extinguished. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, currently chairing the bloc, has pledged renewed commitment to dialogue and reconciliation with estranged member states, while Ghana and Senegal advocate for a reimagined ECOWAS that reflects contemporary challenges.
As West Africa stands at a crossroads, ECOWAS at 50 is both a milestone and a mirror—reflecting decades of aspiration but also exposing the urgent need for reinvention. Whether the next 50 years can reclaim the promise of regional unity remains the defining question.
A House Divided Cannot Stand: Why ECOWAS Must Evolve or Erode
ECOWAS was never just about governments—it was about people. As a Nigerian and a pan-Africanist, I believe the soul of West Africa lies in its people’s dreams of peace, prosperity, and unity. But as soldiers replace statesmen and sanctions replace dialogue, we risk betraying that dream. ECOWAS must become more democratic, more transparent, and more people-driven. It is time to build a regional community not just of nations, but of citizens. The next 50 years depend on it.
– Dr. Michael Omoruyi is the publisher of iNewsAfrica. He writes on governance, democracy, and institutional reform across the African continent.
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