The Economic Community of West African States, known as ECOWAS, is a regional organisation founded by the Treaty of Lagos, with the aim of promoting economic integration among countries in West Africa. It was set up on the initiative of Nigeria and Togo, and fifteen countries were members. Over time it has also become involved in politics and security, deploying the ECOMOG military force to Liberia and Sierra Leone in the 1990s and mediating in crises elsewhere. It has pursued a free-trade zone and a common currency project. In 2024, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced their withdrawal after military takeovers, which strained the organisation. Its headquarters are in Abuja, Nigeria.
Before and after
- 30 April 1975Fall of Saigon
- from 1 May 1975 to 23 October 1991Third Indochina War
- 2 May 1975Birth of David Beckham
- 8 May 1975Birth of Enrique Iglesias
- 28 May 1975Founding of Economic Community of West African States
- 30 May 1975Founding of European Space Agency
- June 1975SOS
- 8 June 1975Launch of Venera 9
- 1 July 1975Establishment of Huascarán National Park
More in Society, economy & sport
- 24 October 1945Founding of United Nations
- 5 October 1948Founding of International Union for Conservation of Nature
- 5 May 1949Founding of Council of Europe
- 1960Founding of Somalia
- 1 October 1963Founding of Nigeria
- 1985Introduction of new shekel
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.