ECOWAS
- INTERNATIONAL
News:
West African bloc ECOWAS
to meet on Niger after junta defies deadline
What's
in the news?
● West
African leaders will discuss Niger on Thursday after the junta that seized
power defied a deadline to reinstate the ousted president or face the threat of
military intervention.
Key
takeaways:
● The
Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), which has sent military forces into troubled member states
in the past, had told the junta to stand down, but coup leaders instead closed
Niger's airspace and pledged to defend the country.
ECOWAS:
● The
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established through the Treaty of Lagos on May 28, 1975.
Members:
● ECOWAS
is a regional organization comprising 15
member nations to promote economic integration across various sectors.
Objective:
● The
primary objective of ECOWAS is to create a borderless region where abundant
resources can be utilized to create sustainable opportunities for the people.
Key
takeaways:
● Within
ECOWAS, there are two sub-regional
blocs: the West African Economic and Monetary Union, established in 1994,
and the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), established in 2000.
● ECOWAS
aims to govern the region based on
democratic principles, the rule of law, and good governance.
Functions
of ECOWAS:
● Interdependence
and equality among member nations.
● Cooperation
between nations, harmonization of policies, and fusion of programs.
● A
spirit of cooperation and group reliance.
● To
prevent non-violence among member states.
● Upkeep
of international harmony, stability, and security.
● Peaceful
resolution of conflicts between member nations.
● Fostering
tranquility to support economic growth.