The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was created by the Treaty of Lagos on May 28, 1975, in Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. ECOWAS was established to promote cooperation and integration in order to create an economic and monetary union for promoting economic growth and development in West Africa.
State Parties
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cape Verde (Signed in 1977)
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Liberia
- Mali
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Guinea – suspended from Community after 2008 coup d'état
- Niger – suspended from Community after 2009 auto-coup
- Ivory Coast – suspended from Community after 2010 elections