Economic Community of West African States Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest Comunidade Económica dos Estados da África Ocidental
Headquarters		Abuja, Nigeria 6°27′N, 3°23′E
Largest city		Lagos, Nigeria
Official languages		French, English, Portuguese
Membership		15
Leaders
-	President	Tandja Mamadou
Establishment
-	Treaty of Lagos	May 28, 1975
Area
-	Total	5,112,903 km² (7th) 1,5,352,86 sq mi
Population
-	2006 estimate	251,646,263 (4th)
-	Density	115.6/km²  299.4/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	U$ 342,519 Billion (28th)
-	Per capita	U$ 7,890
Currency		Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) Cedi (GHC)2 Dalasi (GMD)2 Guinean franc (GNF)2 Liberian dollar (LRD)3 Naira (NGN)2 Leone (SLL)3 West African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone		(UTC0 to +2)
1	If considered as a single entity.
2	to be replaced by the eco in 2009.
3	Liberia has expressed an interest in joining the eco.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries, founded on May 28, 1975 with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos. Its mission is to promote economic integration. In 1976 Cape Verde joined ECOWAS, and in December 2000 Mauritania withdrew,^[1] having announced its intention to do so in December 1999.^[2] Image File history File links ECOWAS_Flag. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Aso Rock Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. ... For other uses, see Lagos (disambiguation). ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded on May 28, 1975 when 15 West African countries signed the Treaty of Lagos. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, trade unions, universities, and countries. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Niger. ... Tandja Mamadou (born 1938) is a Niger politician and current President. ... The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was created by the Treaty of Lagos on May 28, 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria. ... is the 148th day of the year (149th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different surface areas  here is a list of areas between 1 million km² and 10 million km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... The Cape Verdean Escudo is the currency of Cape Verde. ... SNAPE KILLS DUMBLEDORE The cedi is the unit of currency of Ghana, Africa. ... The Dalasi is the currency of The Gambia. ... The Guinean franc (French: franc guinéen) is the currency used in the African nation of Guinea. ... The dollar (currency code LRD) has been the currency of Liberia since 1943. ... The Naira is the currency of Nigeria. ... The leone is the currency of Sierra Leone, a country on the West African coast. ... The West African CFA franc (XOF) is just known in French as the Franc CFA, where CFA stands for Communauté financière dAfrique (Financial Community of Africa). It is issued by the BCEAO (Banque Centrale des États de lAfrique de lOuest, i. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... UTC redirects here. ... States of WAMZ Light green: interested in joining The Eco is the proposed name for the common currency the West African Monetary Zone plans to introduce by 2009 in the framework of ECOWAS. Category: ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...  Western Africa (UN subregion)  Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... is the 148th day of the year (149th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was created by the Treaty of Lagos on May 28, 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria. ...

It was founded to achieve "collective self-sufficiency" for the member states by means of economic and monetary union creating a single large trading bloc. The very slow progress towards this aim meant that the treaty was revised in Cotonou on July 24, 1993 towards a looser collaboration. The ECOWAS Secretariat and the Fund for Cooperation, Compensation and Development are its two main institutions to implement policies. The ECOWAS Fund was transformed into the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development in 2001. Cotonou is the economic capital of Benin, as well as its largest city. ...

ECOWAS is one of the pillars of the African Economic Community.  members of AEC pillar blocs  states signatories to the AEC Treaty, but not participating in any of the pillars The member states of the African Union are mounting efforts to collaborate economically, but they are impeded by the civil wars raging in several parts of Africa. ...

Member states of ECOWAS are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The current Executive Secretary is Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas. The current chairman is President Tandja Mamadou of Niger. Motto Unidade, Luta, Progresso(Portuguese) Unity, Struggle, Progress Anthem Esta é a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada(Portuguese) Capital (and largest city) Bissau1 Official languages Portuguese Government Republic  -  President João Bernardo Vieira  -  Prime Minister Martinho Ndafa Kabi Independence from Portugal   -  Declared September 24, 1973   -  Recognised September 10, 1974  Area  -  Total... Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, a lawyer and political scientist, was born in Ghana on December 7, 1950. ... Tandja Mamadou (born 1938) is a Niger politician and current President. ...

Members

Map of ECOWAS as of 2006.

• Current members
  •  Benin (1975)
  •  Burkina Faso (1975)
  •  Cape Verde (joined 1976)
  •  Côte d'Ivoire (1975)
  •  Gambia (1975)
  •  Ghana (1975)
  •  Guinea (1975)
  •  Guinea-Bissau (1975)
  •  Liberia (1975)
  •  Mali (1975)
  •  Niger (1975)
  •  Nigeria (1975)
  •  Senegal (1975)
  •  Sierra Leone (1975)
  •  Togo (1975)

• Former members
  •  Mauritania (1975; quit 2000)

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Benin. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Burkina_Faso. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cape_Verde. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cote_d'Ivoire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_The_Gambia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ghana. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guinea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guinea-Bissau. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Liberia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mali. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Niger. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Senegal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sierra_Leone. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Togo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mauritania. ...

Currency Cooperation

     UEMOA (West CFA franc)      WAMZ (Eco)      none yet

Main article: CFA franc

The West African CFA franc (XOF), created on December 26, 1945, is currently used in six formerly French-ruled African countries, as well as in Guinea-Bissau (former Portuguese colony). It is managed by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). Image File history File links UEMOA_and_Eco_in_ECOWAS.PNG Licensing Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links UEMOA_and_Eco_in_ECOWAS.PNG Licensing Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... now. ... is the 360th day of the year (361st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... World map showing location of Africa A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second_largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... States of UEMOA The West African Economic and Monetary Union (or UEMOA from its name in French, Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine) is an organization of states of West Africa established to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency, the CFA franc. ...

Main article: Eco (currency)

The Eco is the proposed name for the common currency the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) plans to introduce on 1 December 2009. The WAMZ includes the Anglophone countries of Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, and the Francophone nation of Guinea. Liberia is also interested in joining this monetary union. The ultimate goal is to unite the UEMOA and the WAMZ to form a single monetary zone in West Africa (ECOWAS), which Cape Verde would then also join. States of WAMZ Light green: interested in joining The Eco is the proposed name for the common currency the West African Monetary Zone plans to introduce by 2009 in the framework of ECOWAS. Category: ... States of WAMZ Light green: interested in joining The Eco is the proposed name for the common currency the West African Monetary Zone plans to introduce by 2009 in the framework of ECOWAS. See Also West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC... is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Republic of The Gambia is a country in West Africa. ... States of UEMOA The West African Economic and Monetary Union (or UEMOA from its name in French, Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine) is an organization of states of West Africa established to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency, the CFA franc. ... States of WAMZ Light green: interested in joining The Eco is the proposed name for the common currency the West African Monetary Zone plans to introduce by 2009 in the framework of ECOWAS. See Also West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC...

Free movement of people

• ECOWAS Travel certificate has entered into circulation in Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
• ECOWAS Passport is printed and operational in Benin, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal.

The Republic of The Gambia is a country in West Africa. ...

Regional Security Cooperation

The ECOWAS nations have signed a non-aggression protocol in 1990 as well as two earlier agreements in 1978 and 1981. They have also signed a Protocol on Mutual Defence Assistance, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 29 May 1981 that provided for the establishment of an Allied Armed Force of the Community Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...

See also: ECOMOG ECOMOG is a West African multilateral armed force established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ...

Comparison with other Regional blocs

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Executive Secretaries

• Aboubakar Diaby Ouattara (Côte d'Ivoire) January 1977 – 1985
• Momodu Munu (Sierra Leone) 1985 – 1989
• Abass Bundu (Sierra Leone) 1989 – 1993
• Edouard Benjamin (Guinea) 1993 – 1997
• Lansana Kouyaté (Guinea) September 1997 – 31 January 2002
• Mohamed Ibn Chambas (Ghana) 1 February 2002 – Present

Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Abass Bundu is a former politician and diplomat from Sierra Leone. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Edouard Benjamin (b. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Lansana Kouyaté (b. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, a lawyer and political scientist, was born in Ghana on December 7, 1950. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

Chairmen

• Gnassingbé Eyadéma (Togo) 1977 – 1978
• Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria) 1978 – 1979
• Léopold Sédar Senghor (Senegal) 1979 – 1980
• Gnassingbé Eyadéma (Togo) 1980 – 1981
• Siaka Stevens (Sierra Leone) 1981 – 1982
• Mathieu Kérékou (Benin) 1982 – 1983
• Ahmed Sékou Touré (Guinea) 1983 – 1984
• Lansana Conté (Guinea) 1984 – 1985
• Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria) 1985 – 27 August 1985
• Ibrahim Babangida (Nigeria) 27 August 1985 – 1989
• Dawda Jawara (The Gambia) 1989 – 1990
• Blaise Compaoré (Burkina Faso) 1990 – 1991
• Dawda Jawara (The Gambia) 1991 – 1992
• Abdou Diouf (Senegal) 1992 – 1993
• Nicéphore Soglo (Benin) 1993 – 1994
• Jerry John Rawlings (Ghana) 1994 – 27 July 1996
• Sani Abacha (Nigeria) 27 July 1996 – 8 June 1998
• Abdulsalami Abubakar (Nigeria) 9 June 1998 – 1999
• Gnassingbé Eyadéma (Togo) 1999
• Alpha Oumar Konaré (Mali) 1999 – 21 December 2001
• Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal) 21 December 2001 – 31 January 2003
• John Agyekum Kufuor (Ghana) 31 January 2003 – 19 January 2005
• Mamadou Tandja (Niger) 19 January 2005 – Present

Gnassingbé Eyadéma - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... General (rtd. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Léopold Sédar Senghor (October 9, 1906 – December 20, 2001) was a Senegalese poet and politician who served as the first president of Senegal (1960–1980). ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Gnassingbé Eyadéma - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Siaka Probyn Stevens (August 24, 1905–May 29, 1988) was the President of Sierra Leone from 1971 to 1985. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Time in Office October 26, 1972–4 April 1991 4 April 1996–6 April 2006 Predecessor Justin Ahomadegbé (first time) Nicéphore Soglo (second time) Successor Nicéphore Soglo (first time) Yayi Boni (second time) Date of Birth 2 September 1933 Place of Birth Kouarfa, Dahomey (now Benin) (Ahmed) Mathieu... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... This article is about the year. ... Lansana Conté (born 1934) has been the President of Guinea since 3 April 1984. ... This article is about the year. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (born August 17, 1941), popularly known as IBB, was the military ruler of Nigeria from August 1985 until his departure from office under heavy popular pressure in 1993, after his annulment of elections held that year which were widely held to have been the freest and... is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara (born May 16, 1924) was the first President of The Gambia (1970 - 1994). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Blaise Compaoré (born February 3, 1951) has been the president of Burkina Faso since 1987. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara (born May 16, 1924) was the first President of The Gambia (1970 - 1994). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Abdou Diouf (Wolof: ) (born September 7, 1935) was the second president of Senegal, serving from 1981 to 2000. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo (born 29 November 1934) is a Beninese politician who was Prime Minister of Benin from 1990 to 1991 and President from 1991 to 1996. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Jerry John Rawlings (born 1947) is a longtime Ghanaian politician who served as the countrys president twice. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Sani Abacha General Sani Abacha (Kano, 20 September 1943 – Abuja, 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian politician and military leader. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 159th day of the year (160th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... General Abdulsalam Abubakar (born June 13, 1942) became Nigerias eighth military Head of State in 1998, after Ironsi, Gowon, Murtala, Obasanjo, Buhari, Babangida and Abacha, since the countrys independence from Britain in 1960. ... is the 160th day of the year (161st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Gnassingbé Eyadéma - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Alpha Oumar Konaré (born 2 February 1946) was the president of Mali for two five-year terms (1992 to 2002), and has been Chairman of the African Commission since 2003. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Abdoulaye Wade (born May 29, 1926 in Kébémer[2]) is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: People stubs | 1938 births | Ghanaian people ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tandja Mamadou (born 1938) is a Niger politician and current President. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Economy of Africa
• Currency union
• Trade bloc

The economy of Africa consists of the trade, industry, and resources of the peoples of Africa. ... In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them, for example, the East Caribbean Dollar. ... A trade bloc is a large free trade area or free trade area formed by one or more tax, tariff and trade agreements. ...

References

External links

• ECOWAS Official Web Site
• ECOWAS Parliament
• ECOWAS Revised Treaty
• ECO(was) Bank West African banking group, present in ten ECOWAS countries, including Central African country Cameroon. ECOBANK's Initial Public Offer of eight million plus shares in Accra, Ghana in May 2006 was oversubscribed. Money generated from this IPO, that has resulted in the landing of ECOBANK on the Ghana Stock Exchange, will see ECOBANK expand to remaining ECOWAS countries. More: *[1];
• PowerPoint presentation of ECOWAS, 2004
• Mbendi profile