CEDEAO at 50: Milestones and Challenges

On May 28, 2025, the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO) will celebrate its 50th anniversary, reflecting on significant achievements and challenges. Established in 1975 by the Lagos Treaty, CEDEAO comprises 15 member states, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Its key objectives include promoting intra-regional trade, establishing free movement of people and goods, harmonizing economic policies, and ensuring peace and security.

CEDEAO has successfully implemented the Common External Tariff (TEC), which harmonizes tariffs, and facilitated visa-free travel through the issuance of 2 million CEDEAO passports. Despite these achievements, the organization faces critical challenges, including political instability from recent coups in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, economic disparities between member states—with GDP per capita ranging from $1,000 to over $5,000—and delays in key integration projects like the single regional currency (“Eco”), initially planned for launch in 2020.

The formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) on September 16, 2023, by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso threatens CEDEAO’s coherence, leading to a potential withdrawal of these states effective January 28, 2025. This withdrawal would result in a loss of approximately 54% of CEDEAO’s geographical area (from 2,781,000 km² to 2,300,000 km²) and a reduction of around 7% of its GDP (~$53 billion). 

CEDEAO’s military interventions, including those in Liberia (1990-1997) and Sierra Leone (1997-1999), underscore its commitment to maintaining stability but raise questions about its consistency and approach to governance. As it marks this anniversary, CEDEAO must navigate complex political and security dynamics to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in the region.

Source: Policy Center for the New South