Collectively, the present and former members comprise an area of 5,, km 2 1,, sq mi and have an estimated population of over Considered one of the pillar regional blocs of the continent-wide African Economic Community AEC , the stated goal of ECOWAS is to achieve "collective self-sufficiency " for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc by building a full economic and trading union.
A revised version of the treaty was agreed and signed on 24 July in Cotonou , the largest city in Benin. ECOWAS's fundamental principles rely on equity , inter-dependence, solidarity, co-operation, nonaggression, regional peace, promotion of human rights , and economic and social justice. The Free Movement of Persons Protocol permits citizens the right to enter and reside in any member state's territory, [ 10 ] and the Ecotour Action Plan aims to develop and integrate the tourist industry of each member state.
ECOWAS also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region, with member states occasionally sending joint military forces to intervene in the bloc's member countries at times of political instability and unrest. In , the military governments of Niger , Burkina Faso , and Mali jointly announced their withdrawal from the bloc, after having been suspended following respective military takeovers in these countries. All current members joined the community as founding members in May , except Cape Verde which joined in Additionally, ECOWAS closed all land and air borders between other member states and Niger and instituted a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger.
As a result of the suspension, children have not been able to attend school due to lack of supplies, and businesses are shutting down due to rising costs. For Niger this included the border closures, the freezing of central bank and state assets, the suspension of commercial transactions, and the no-fly-zone for commercial flights to and from Niger. However, the political sanctions and targeted sanctions would remain in force. ECOWAS was formed initially from the region's former French, British and Portuguese colonies, and independent Liberia, following post-colonial independence throughout the region particularly in the s and s.
At independence, many African states were challenged in increasing economic development. The union was established on 28 May , 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 in Cotonou.
