ECOWAS at 50: Navigating the Crossroads of Economic Integration and Institutional Fragmentation

Abstract As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marked its 50th anniversary in May 2025, the bloc faces unprecedented challenges threatening its foundational goals of regional integration. This study examines ECOWAS's trajectory from a cooperative economic and security framework to its current crossroads, marked by the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Drawing on neo-functionalism and regional security complex theory, this qualitative research analyzes the historical evolution of ECOWAS integration policies, particularly the Protocol on Free Movement, and contrasts this with the contemporary fragmentation driven by political instability, security challenges and military coups. The findings suggest that while historical integration yielded economic and social dividends, the recent disintegration severely undermines regional security and economic cohesion. Ultimately, ECOWAS must urgently reevaluate its diplomatic and institutional frameworks to navigate this crisis and prevent further fragmentation in West Africa.