could not address problems individually, there was a need for a regional approach and thus ECOWAS was founded. ECOWAS was formed to provide regional economic cooperation, but has since evolved to include political and military cooperation, as well.

The union was established on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, with its stated mission to promote economic integration across the region. A revised version of the treaty was agreed and signed on 24 July 1993 in Cotonou. Considered