ECOWAS Marks 50 Years Amid Security Crisis, Regional Fractures

As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks its 50th anniversary, leaders are confronting significant challenges including terrorism, military coups, climate change, and poverty that threaten the bloc's unity and stability. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu emphasized the need to uphold the founding vision of regional integration and solidarity despite artificial colonial borders, paying tribute to past leaders who have contributed to ECOWAS's progress in peacekeeping and trade. However, the departure of military-led countries Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—now forming their own alliances and distancing themselves from ECOWAS—has fractured the bloc, undermining its credibility and regional influence. The Sahel region continues to be the epicenter of global terrorism, complicating security efforts especially as jihadists exploit tensions between member states. Analysts note that without security, economic growth and poverty reduction in West Africa remain elusive, and they criticize ECOWAS for its muted response to constitutional changes that prolong leaders' tenures, which has in some cases encouraged military coups. The anniversary gathering in Lagos, including remarks from Tinubu and ECOWAS co-founder General Yakubu Gowon, aims to address these pressing issues while reaffirming the bloc's commitment to its founding principles.