ECOWAS
How West Africa built the muscle to rout dictators and keep the peace
The Economic Community of West African States, which had its roots West Africa’s fractious and coup-rich 1960s, has become a resounding political success, writes Abdul-Jalilu Ateku
Following the resolution of the political impasse in Gambia, a great deal of attention has focused on the role played by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). The regional body brought a swift end to the potentially explosive crisis sparked by the refusal of former President Yahya Jammeh to hand over to the newly elected Adama Barrow. Jammeh’s flight to exile was preceded by weeks of diplomacy to persuade him to hand over power peacefully. When this failed, regional troops and military assets were mobilised to install Barrow forcibly. The rest is history. Barrow is now officially in the presidential seat. This resounding success, unrivalled by any African regional organisation, has taken decades to craft. It is remarkable to think that at its inception in 1975, joint military action was not even on the cards. The fractious 1960s By the close of the early 1960s, most countries in the West African sub-region had gained political freedom from colonial powers. They ado...
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