By Semafor Africa
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
Fifty is the number of years since the Economic Community of West African States was formed.
The bloc, created to foster economic integration and political solidarity between West African nations, has fractured in recent years following a spate of military coups.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — each now led by a junta — left in January, causing the biggest split to the body since its formation, reducing the bloc to 12 members. The trio formed the Alliance of Sahel States as an alternative to Ecowas, which they accuse of serving the interests of Western powers.
Addressing an event to commemorate the anniversary, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who currently chairs Ecowas, said the bloc’s challenge in the next 50 years was to “renew our compact with one another.”
