LOS MATERIALES PEDAGÓGICOS

Attempts at political, economic and security integration in West Africa began during the post-colonial period which was initiated by Kwame Nkrumah’s desire for a united continental government.

The period of colonialism played a significant role in the way these states identify themselves today, some examples would be the defining of their boundaries, style of government and economic infrastructure. Preceding colonialism, the area was known for its kingdoms and empires which existed for the span of centuries. Upon attaining independence, the desire of member states of this region to integrate their political and economic strengths to promote prosperity became a more realistic goal (Asante, 1986), which was of course propelled and challenged by the region’s linguistic, ecological and cultural diversity.

A diversity of factors were responsible for the desire and need of integration in West Africa. First and foremost, the creation of an economic community was the best method to attain national and regional development which was vital in the 1970’s, as an economic alliance would serve as a good collective bargaining platform along with other economic alliances worldwide. Economic integration was considered the most suitable way for smaller countries to enhance economic growth through association with economies with a larger regional consumer market, ergo sustaining their economic stability.

Despite the high motivation for the formation of a West African economic community, there were factors that hindered this process, one of these factors would be that France, the most influential

regional actor in West Africa was categorically against integration and consistently discouraged any form of co-operation between francophone and anglophone states mostly because it considered itself to be the core of African foreign policy. France only encouraged francophone states to preserve post- colonial relation (Gambari, 1991). For example, in 1945, first attempts of integration occurred when the French created a government of the Federation of French West Africa (AOF), including a francophone West African Customs Union which utilized a centralized single currency. This was known as the CFA franc zone and was supported by France (Julienne, 1967). Anglophones, with the support of the British, also put up similar institutions. Funding and other means of support between francophone West African states and France, as well as anglophone West African states and Britain, were mostly based on common history of functional co-operation dating back to the pre-colonial period (Fenwick, 2009). This obvious division between the anglophone and francophone states was a hinderance to all attempts of the creation of a free regional trade area.

Despite the fact that the first attempt of integration too place in 1945, the late president Tubman of Liberia is until dated accredited for leading the diplomatic and political for integration and creation of a West African economic community. This idea of a free trade zone was brought forth during his speech on the 7th _{of January 1964 and also supported by the United Nations Economic Commission} for Africa (UN-ECA) but was deemed unsuccessful due to the clash between francophone and anglophone West African states (Cline-Cole and Robson, 2016).

Among the anglophone states in West Africa, Nigeria was the major catalyst in the creation of a West African economic community. In as much as Nigeria’s leading role was influenced by the Biafran civil war in the late 1960’s, which caused its government to develop a stronger interest in region security, the oil crisis of 1973 which made Nigeria an oil producer unquestionably drew attention of the international community. The newly acquired oil resources only reinforced their ambitions in the region causing them to adopt a strategy of ‘oil diplomacy’ within their foreign policy. As Nigeria assumed the leadership role in the formation of ECOWAS, its rhetoric was always focused toward limiting French influence as they were perceived to be rivals. France, since the colonial period has been a powerful actor in the West African region as a result of their economic, political and military contribution over the years (Gambari, 1991).

In 1972, the Nigerian head of state General Yakubu Gowon and President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo collaborated in recruiting support of the regional integration by touring the whole region. Almost instantaneously, six francophone states, namely, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Niger, Upper Volta,

Mali and Mauritania came together to create what was known as Communauté Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (C.E.A.O.) in an attempt to counterbalance Nigerian influence in the region. General Gowon went further to form the Nigeria-Togo embryonic West African Economic Community (WAEC) with the collaboration of President Eyadema, opening membership to all states of the region (Bach, 1983). This led to a rivalry between the two regional economic groups in the region, one of which was exclusively for francophone states, whereas the other was a more inclusive community.

In April 1972, Generals Gowon and Eyadema went on to draft a treaty for the formation of a new regional integration union in the West African region. The draft treaty was examined and reviewed in December 1973, in January 1974 and in January 1975 by interested regional states during meetings in Togo, Ghana and Liberia respectively. Finally, the ECOWAS treaty was signed in Lagos on 28th May 1975 by the original fifteen states (ECOWAS, 1975). In 1977 upon attaining independence, Cape Verde became the sixteenth member. Following the withdrawal of Mauritania in 2001, there are fifteen-member states in ECOWAS as of today. Togo and Niger play a vital role in drawing other francophone states into joining.

The primary objective of the ECOWAS treaty was the creation of a market that focused on liberalized trade and the formation of opened barriers for free access and movement of factors of production such as goods, services and of course people. The promotion of integration and cooperation between states was a vital part in the formation of an economic zone and developing of the continent. The aims of the ECOWAS treaty were to empower the people by raising living standards, enhancing economic stability and fostering a friendliness amongst the various states in the region (ECOWAS, 1993).