<h4>Recent Developments: Withdrawal of Member States</h4><p>Recently, the <strong>military regimes</strong> in <strong>Burkina Faso</strong>, <strong>Mali</strong>, and <strong>Niger</strong> announced their immediate withdrawal from the <strong>Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)</strong>.</p><div class='exam-tip-box'><p>This development highlights significant challenges to regional stability and governance in West Africa, crucial for <strong>UPSC Mains GS-II (International Relations)</strong>.</p></div><h4>What is ECOWAS?</h4><p>The <strong>Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)</strong> is a prominent <strong>regional grouping</strong> established to foster <strong>economic integration</strong> and <strong>shared development</strong> within the <strong>West African sub-region</strong>.</p><div class='info-box'><p><strong>Foundation:</strong> <strong>May 1975</strong> in <strong>Lagos, Nigeria</strong>.</p><p><strong>Headquarters:</strong> <strong>Abuja, Nigeria</strong>.</p></div><h4>Founding Members of ECOWAS</h4><p>ECOWAS was founded by <strong>15 West African countries</strong>. These nations came together to create a unified economic bloc.</p><ul><li><strong>Benin</strong></li><li><strong>Burkina Faso</strong></li><li><strong>Côte d'Ivoire</strong></li><li><strong>The Gambia</strong></li><li><strong>Ghana</strong></li><li><strong>Guinea</strong></li><li><strong>Guinea Bissau</strong></li><li><strong>Liberia</strong></li><li><strong>Mali</strong></li><li><strong>Mauritania</strong></li><li><strong>Niger</strong></li><li><strong>Nigeria</strong></li><li><strong>Sierra Leone</strong></li><li><strong>Sénégal</strong></li><li><strong>Togo</strong></li></ul><h4>Major Initiatives and Achievements</h4><p>ECOWAS has undertaken several significant initiatives to achieve its objectives of regional integration and stability.</p><div class='key-point-box'><p><strong>Free Trade Area:</strong> Established in <strong>1990</strong>, promoting trade liberalization among member states.</p></div><div class='key-point-box'><p><strong>Common External Tariff (CET):</strong> Adopted in <strong>January 2015</strong>, harmonizing customs duties for goods imported from outside the bloc.</p></div><p>Beyond economic goals, ECOWAS has also actively addressed <strong>security issues</strong> within the region by developing a <strong>peacekeeping force</strong>.</p><p>This force has been instrumental in intervening in regional conflicts to restore peace and stability.</p><h4>India-ECOWAS Relations</h4><p><strong>India</strong> maintains a <strong>long-standing relationship</strong> with ECOWAS, recognizing its strategic importance in West Africa.</p><div class='info-box'><p><strong>Observer Status:</strong> India was granted <strong>observer status</strong> to ECOWAS in <strong>2004</strong>.</p><p><strong>Line of Credit:</strong> In <strong>2006</strong>, India extended a <strong>Line of Credit (LoC)</strong> worth <strong>USD 250 million</strong> to the grouping.</p></div><p>ECOWAS has reciprocated this partnership by supporting <strong>India’s bid for a permanent seat</strong> in the <strong>United Nations Security Council (UNSC)</strong>.</p>