Challenges of Economic Community of West African States in Regional Integration in The Sub-Region (2015-2024)

This work critically examines the challenges faced by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in promoting regional integration and sustainable development in the West African sub-region from 2015 to 2024. ECOWAS, established in 1975, was intended to foster economic cooperation, political stability, and socio-economic development among its member states. However, despite various initiatives, ECOWAS continues to grapple with numerous obstacles that impede its effectiveness. These challenges include political instability, security threats, inadequate infrastructure, economic disparities, and external interference. The study utilizes a secondary research design, drawing from scholarly articles, institutional reports, and case studies to assess the impact of these challenges on regional integration efforts. The work highlights key areas such as the rise of terrorism in the Sahel region, governance issues, coup d'etat, poverty, and trade barriers as critical factors affecting ECOWAS’s performance. Furthermore, it evaluates the effectiveness of ECOWAS policies and initiatives, including the ECOWAS Vision 2020 and the ECOWAS Strategic Plan 2019-2023, in addressing these challenges. Findings from the work indicate that while ECOWAS has made significant progress in areas such as peacekeeping and conflict resolution, its ability to achieve economic and political integration remains hindered by internal and external factors. The study concludes by recommending a more robust approach to political unity, infrastructure development, and institutional strengthening to improve ECOWAS's effectiveness in achieving its regional integration objectives.