ECOWAS was founded in 1975 as an organization consisting of nations in West Africa. Its full name is the Economic Community of West African States, and its original purpose was to encourage regional economic cooperation and integration.
The organization was created through the Treaty of Lagos, signed on May 28, 1975. Its founding members sought to reduce trade barriers, coordinate development, and build a larger regional market among neighboring West African countries. Cooperation covers areas such as commerce, agriculture, transport, energy, finance, and infrastructure.
ECOWAS is sometimes confused with the broader African Union or with smaller regional groupings such as the West African Economic and Monetary Union. ECOWAS is specifically a West African regional bloc. Although its membership and political role have changed over time, the geographic answer remains West Africa. The organization has also become involved in diplomacy, election monitoring, and regional security alongside its economic mission.