Adedokun Waliyu 
The Economic Community of West African States has proposed a new six-pillar strategic framework known as the “Compact of the Future of Regional Integration” aimed at strengthening political unity, economic cooperation, and regional stability across West Africa.
The initiative was presented during the ongoing First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah.
According to Musah, the compact is designed as a major survival and reform strategy to reposition the regional bloc amid growing political instability, democratic setbacks, economic pressures, and security threats across the region.
He explained that the initiative aims to transform ECOWAS from an organisation focused mainly on declarations into one capable of delivering tangible benefits such as security, economic mobility, digital integration, and inclusive development for citizens.
Musah noted that the proposal aligns with the ECOWAS Vision 2050 agenda and represents a shift from what he described as an “ECOWAS of States” to an “ECOWAS of the Peoples.”
The commissioner acknowledged that the regional body was currently facing one of its most difficult periods since its establishment in 1975, citing governance failures, military coups, and the rise of the Alliance of Sahel States involving Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The six strategic pillars of the proposed compact include:
Sustainable economic transformation
Peace, security, and democratic governance
Science and technology advancement
Social inclusion and youth participation
Institutional reforms
Stronger ECOWAS geopolitical positioning
Under the economic transformation agenda, ECOWAS plans to increase intra-regional trade to 30 percent by 2035, promote industrialisation and food sovereignty, and introduce the ECO single currency by 2040.
The governance and security component proposes stricter opposition to military coups and unconstitutional changes of government while strengthening the ECOWAS Standby Force to tackle emerging regional threats.
The science and technology pillar includes plans for a Digital Single Market by 2030, while the social inclusion framework seeks to raise women’s representation in leadership positions to 40 percent and formally integrate youth participation into governance structures.
Musah also revealed that the compact proposes reforms aimed at making ECOWAS institutions more transparent, merit-based, and financially independent through full implementation of the Community Levy by 2030.
A major aspect of the initiative is its focus on “strategic autonomy,” positioning ECOWAS as a stronger and more unified geopolitical actor capable of defending West Africa’s interests in a rapidly changing global environment.
The framework additionally outlines plans for dialogue and confidence-building efforts with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in an attempt to prevent their permanent withdrawal from ECOWAS.
To improve implementation, the compact introduces a monitoring and evaluation mechanism that would include compliance scorecards for member states and evidence-based policy assessments.
Lawmakers at the ECOWAS Parliament reportedly engaged in extensive discussions on the proposed reforms and their implications for the future of regional integration in West Africa.
