The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was created by the Treaty of Lagos on May 28, 1975, in Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. ECOWAS was established to promote cooperation and integration in order to create an economic and monetary union for promoting economic growth and development in West Africa.

State parties

 Benin
 Burkina Faso
 Cape Verde
 Gambia
 Ghana
 Guinea-Bissau
 Liberia
 Mali
 Nigeria
 Senegal
 Sierra Leone
 Togo
 Guinea – suspended from Community after 2008 coup d'état^[1][2]
 Niger – suspended from Community after 2009 auto-coup^[3]
 Ivory Coast - suspended from Community after 2010 elections^[4]