The Role of ECOWAS in Promoting Peace and Development in West Africa 1990 - 2024

Abstract

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has emerged as a central regional institution in addressing peace, security, and development challenges in West Africa. Although established in 1975 primarily to promote economic integration, ECOWAS has progressively expanded its mandate to include conflict prevention, peacekeeping, democratic governance, and post-conflict reconstruction. This study examined the role of ECOWAS in promoting peace and sustainable development in West Africa, with the objective of assessing how regional cooperation contributes to stability and socio-economic transformation in the sub-region. The study adopts a qualitative research design and relies on secondary data obtained from ECOWAS treaties, protocols, policy documents, and reports, as well as publications from international and regional organizations and peer-reviewed academic literature. The analysis covers the period from the early 1990s to 2024, capturing ECOWAS’ institutional evolution in response to recurrent conflicts, democratic transitions, and emerging security threats. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, guided by the theories of regionalism and neo-functionalism. Findings indicate that ECOWAS has made significant contributions to regional peace and development through peacekeeping operations, early warning mechanisms, mediation efforts, and the promotion of democratic norms. The study also reveals that ECOWAS’ economic integration and development initiatives are closely intertwined with its security agenda, reflecting the mutual dependence between peace and development. However, persistent challenges such as terrorism, political instability, weak institutional capacity, and limited compliance by member states continue to constrain the organization’s effectiveness. The study concludes that while ECOWAS has played a vital role in advancing peace and development in West Africa, strengthening institutional capacity, political commitment, and policy coordination among member states is essential for achieving sustainable peace and long-term development in the region.