Economic Community of West African States
ECOWAS, established in May 1975 by the Treaty of Lagos (first operating in
November 1976), is an economic association of 16 West African nations aimed
at creating a full customs union (not yet achieved) as well as social and
cultural fellowship. Members include: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde,
Câte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali,
Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Community
headquarters are in Abuja, Nigeria.