From 20th century
West Africa
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) came into existence in Lagos in May 1975 as a regional economic organization. Its founding members included fifteen West African states. The community aimed to reduce customs duties and trade restrictions, establish common commercial policies, and create community citizenship allowing freedom of movement, work, and residence across member states.
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The Story
West African economic regionalism developed slowly amid tensions between Anglophone and Francophone governments. Discussions about a West African Economic Community had taken place in Accra in 1967 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. A Francophone economic community was created in 1970, but it looked toward France and the European Economic Community rather than toward Anglophone neighbors.
Nigeria later supplied the principal impetus for a comprehensive West African economic community. Its recovery from the civil war of 1967–70, strengthened by the oil boom, made it the economic giant of West Africa by the mid-1970s. In 1973, Nigeria’s balance of payments moved into substantial surplus, while the international oil crisis weakened its non-oil-producing neighbors; Nigeria used this more favorable position to advance regional negotiations, with Togo helping to reassure Francophone powers.
ECOWAS came into existence in Lagos in May 1975. Its founding members were Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Upper Volta, Ghana, Togo, Dahomey, Niger, and Nigeria. The community was modeled in part on the European Economic Community and provided for the gradual reduction of customs duties and trade restrictions, common customs and commercial policies, and common citizenship.
The citizenship provisions had direct implications for migrant traders and laborers who regularly crossed international frontiers in West Africa. They were intended to provide freedom of movement, work, and residence within the community. The extract presents this as a practical response to patterns of regional mobility, although it also records a warning that building a West African economic community would take at least five years.
From 20th century
West Africa
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) came into existence in Lagos in May 1975 as a regional economic organization. Its founding members included fifteen West African states. The community aimed to reduce customs duties and trade restrictions, establish common commercial policies, and create community citizenship allowing freedom of movement, work, and residence across member states.
Continue exploring
The Story
West African economic regionalism developed slowly amid tensions between Anglophone and Francophone governments. Discussions about a West African Economic Community had taken place in Accra in 1967 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. A Francophone economic community was created in 1970, but it looked toward France and the European Economic Community rather than toward Anglophone neighbors.
Nigeria later supplied the principal impetus for a comprehensive West African economic community. Its recovery from the civil war of 1967–70, strengthened by the oil boom, made it the economic giant of West Africa by the mid-1970s. In 1973, Nigeria’s balance of payments moved into substantial surplus, while the international oil crisis weakened its non-oil-producing neighbors; Nigeria used this more favorable position to advance regional negotiations, with Togo helping to reassure Francophone powers.
ECOWAS came into existence in Lagos in May 1975. Its founding members were Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Upper Volta, Ghana, Togo, Dahomey, Niger, and Nigeria. The community was modeled in part on the European Economic Community and provided for the gradual reduction of customs duties and trade restrictions, common customs and commercial policies, and common citizenship.
The citizenship provisions had direct implications for migrant traders and laborers who regularly crossed international frontiers in West Africa. They were intended to provide freedom of movement, work, and residence within the community. The extract presents this as a practical response to patterns of regional mobility, although it also records a warning that building a West African economic community would take at least five years.
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