Africa is the second largest – and second most populous – continent after Asia. Did you realize that it straddles both the equator and the prime meridian? In fact, it is the only continent in the world that stretches from one temperate zone to the other. As a result, there are a wide range of climates and ecosystems in Africa, including desert, rainforest, and everything in between. It is hardly surprising, then, that the continent is home to 54 countries, or that when we talk about Africa, we frequently discuss one of its five regions – North, East, Central, Southern, and West.
West Africa and ECOWAS
When describing The Gambia, you could say that it is a small river-country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Or you could say it is in West Africa. In fact, The Gambia, along with 14 other countries, is a member of the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS. Signed into being on May 28, 1975, this organization was established “to foster the ideal of collective self-sufficiency for its member states” and is considered one of the pillars of the African Economic Community.[1] Essentially, ECOWAS is a trade union between countries that fosters integrated economic activities and development intended to raise the standard of living for people throughout the region. All 300 million of them.
In spite of the economic emphasis, their objectives also include the coordination of several national policies and integrations of programs ranging from agriculture and natural resources, health to education, tourism to conservation of culture and environmental protections. By embracing democracy and good governance, they look to create a more peaceful and prosperous region.
“An integrated region where the population enjoys free movement, access to efficient education and health systems, engage in economic and commercial activities and live in dignity, in an environment of peace and security.”
Peace and Prosperity to All
The ECOWAS Commission and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development are two of the organization’s main institutions, but it also has a Community Court of Justice. In other words, they are far from a static body. They actually develop and implement projects in a wide variety of areas integral to their overarching goals, including telecommunications, water resources, energy, and transportation. [2] The ECOWAS even maintains peacekeeping forces in the region, the ECOWAS Monitoring Group. In fact, this group was the first of its kind to be established by a regional body and, unlike the UN, will intervene in internal conflicts as well as external threats.[3] Sadly, internal strife makes the road to peace and prosperity to all is a long and difficult road for West Africa.
Members
The fifteen members of the ECOWAS are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. And, of course, The Gambia! In fact, Omar Alieu Touray, a Gambian diplomat who has represented his country in the UN and served as The Gambia’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, is the current President of ECOWAS.
Want to Know More?
Check out the ECOWAS Website!
[1] https://ecowas.int/about-ecowas/
[2] https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/economic-community-west-african-states