ECOWAS Rolls Out Bold ‘Survival Blueprint’ To Rescue West African Unity Amid Rising Crises
As West Africa grapples with insecurity, political instability and growing distrust among member states, the Economic Community of West African States has unveiled an ambitious plan aimed at redefining the future of regional integration and preventing further fragmentation of the bloc.
Presenting the proposal during the First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Abdel-Fatau Musah described the “Compact for the Future of Regional Integration” as a survival strategy designed to rebuild trust, restore unity and reposition ECOWAS as a people-centred institution.
Musah said the initiative, anchored on ECOWAS Vision 2050, seeks to transform the regional body from what he termed an elite-driven organisation into an “ECOWAS of the Peoples,” amid rising democratic setbacks and the emergence of rival alliances such as the Alliance of Sahel States involving Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The proposed Compact focuses on six key pillars, including economic transformation, democratic governance, security, technology, social inclusion, institutional reform and geopolitical positioning.
Among its major targets are increasing intra-regional trade to 30 per cent by 2035, establishing a Digital Single Market by 2030 and implementing the ECO single currency by 2040.
The document also reinforces zero tolerance for military coups while proposing a stronger ECOWAS Standby Force to address emerging threats across the region.
Musah noted that the initiative also prioritises women and youth inclusion, with plans to raise women’s representation in leadership to 40 per cent and deepen youth participation in governance.
He added that the Compact introduces stricter compliance and monitoring mechanisms to ensure member states implement agreed policies effectively, saying the ultimate goal is to make ECOWAS deliver tangible benefits such as security, economic mobility and digital connectivity to citizens.
“The Compact for the Future of Regional Integration is a survival strategy for the region,” Musah stated, stressing that the plan was developed through consultations with citizens, civil society groups, the African diaspora and regional leaders.
Lawmakers at the ongoing parliament session are expected to further deliberate on the proposal as ECOWAS confronts mounting security, governance and economic pressures across West Africa.
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