Considerations in Establishing an Economic Community of West African States' Defense Pact

摘要

This paper seeks to analyze the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) objectives; achievements; the need for a subregional defence; external and internal threats; regional member states; problems; role of major powers at play--France and Nigeria; the military capabilities of member states; and the ECOWAS Defence Pact's provisions and defects. The paper then recommends a force structure if present arrangements are unacceptable, highlights the future prospects of the organization, and ends with a conclusion. Since the defence pact has not been ratified, it is deemed inoperable, and this paper aims to analyze the considerations for establishing the pact and attempts to convince member states of its implications and desirability.