ECOWAS at 50: Achievements and Setbacks Amid Growing Legitimacy Crisis

As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) celebrates its 50th anniversary in May 2025, the organization faces both significant achievements and growing challenges. While ECOWAS has contributed to regional integration, peace, and good governance, the recent withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso highlights a crisis of legitimacy. These countries question ECOWAS’s role, accusing it of aligning too closely with Europe and undermining national sovereignty. Despite these challenges, ECOWAS continues to advocate for democracy and a return to civilian rule. Moving forward, it must bolster its credibility by remaining consistent in its democratic values and using soft diplomacy to address ongoing crises, signaling the need for reform in its next 50 years.

The Conversation