Updated 28 September 2026 · Travo.ng
Quick answer
ECOWAS now has 12 member states: Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formally left on 29 January 2025 and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The older figure of 15 members is out of date. Guinea-Bissau was suspended after a coup in November 2025.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was founded on 28 May 1975 by the Treaty of Lagos. Its headquarters are in Abuja, Nigeria. For most of its history, the list of members was stable and school textbooks and websites said ‘fifteen countries’. That changed in 2025, when three Sahel states under military governments completed their withdrawal. This page gives the current list, with capitals, explains who left and why, and sets out what membership means in practice for travellers and traders.
ECOWAS member states list (2026)
| # | Country | Capital | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benin | Porto-Novo (official); Cotonou (seat of government) | Founding member |
| 2 | Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) | Praia | Joined 1977 |
| 3 | Côte d’Ivoire | Yamoussoukro (political); Abidjan (economic) | Founding member |
| 4 | The Gambia | Banjul | Founding member |
| 5 | Ghana | Accra | Founding member |
| 6 | Guinea | Conakry | Founding member; suspension lifted 28 January 2026 |
| 7 | Guinea-Bissau | Bissau | Founding member; suspended 29 November 2025 after a coup |
| 8 | Liberia | Monrovia | Founding member |
| 9 | Nigeria | Abuja | Founding member; hosts ECOWAS headquarters |
| 10 | Senegal | Dakar | Founding member |
| 11 | Sierra Leone | Freetown | Founding member; its president chairs the Authority (from June 2025) |
| 12 | Togo | Lomé | Founding member |
Sources: Awajis, ECOWAS member states (updated 16 May 2026) for the list, capitals and chair; Wikipedia, Economic Community of West African States (checked 28 September 2026) for joining dates and suspensions.
Former members: who left ECOWAS and when
| Country | Left | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Mauritania | December 2000 | A founding member that withdrew; became an associate member in August 2017 |
| Mali | 29 January 2025 | Suspended in May 2021 after a coup; withdrawal announced January 2024 |
| Burkina Faso | 29 January 2025 | Suspended in January 2022 after a coup; withdrawal announced January 2024 |
| Niger | 29 January 2025 | Suspended after the 2023 coup; withdrawal announced January 2024 |
Sources: Wikipedia, ECOWAS; WorldAtlas, Every country that has left ECOWAS (14 May 2026); Africanews (6 February 2025).
The three Sahel states announced their exit in January 2024. After a notice period, the withdrawal took effect on 29 January 2025. They now work together as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and are launching their own travel documents. According to Africanews, the three remain members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). ECOWAS also said it would leave the door open for their citizens to keep enjoying some of the bloc’s benefits, and that trade would continue as usual.
Key facts about ECOWAS
- Founded: 28 May 1975, Treaty of Lagos; revised treaty signed in Cotonou on 24 July 1993.
- Headquarters: Abuja, Nigeria.
- Official languages: English, French and Portuguese.
- Members: 12 (15 before January 2025).
- Chair of the Authority: President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, since June 2025, succeeding Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.
- Free movement: the 1979 Protocol on free movement removed the need for visas for stays of up to 90 days between member states.
- ECOWAS passport: introduced in December 2000.
- Single currency: the proposed ‘Eco’ has not launched. UEMOA members use the West African CFA franc.
- Morocco: applied to join in February 2017 and was endorsed in principle in June 2017, but the application has stalled.
ECOWAS timeline at a glance
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1975 | ECOWAS founded by the Treaty of Lagos (28 May) |
| 1977 | Cape Verde joins |
| 1979 | Free movement protocol: visa-free stays of up to 90 days |
| 1993 | Revised ECOWAS treaty signed in Cotonou (24 July) |
| 2000 | Mauritania withdraws; ECOWAS passport introduced (December) |
| 2017 | Morocco applies to join; Mauritania becomes an associate member |
| 2024 | Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announce their withdrawal (January) |
| 2025 | The three exits take effect (29 January); Guinea-Bissau suspended (29 November) |
| 2026 | Guinea’s suspension lifted (28 January) |
Sources: Wikipedia, ECOWAS; WorldAtlas (14 May 2026); Awajis (16 May 2026).
What ECOWAS membership means for Nigerians
Visa-free travel
As a Nigerian, you can visit other member states without a visa for up to 90 days under the free movement protocol. You still need a valid travel document: a Nigerian (ECOWAS) passport or an ECOWAS travel certificate. You may also be asked for proof of yellow fever vaccination and your onward plans at the border. Our guide explains the difference between the ECOWAS passport and the international passport.
Travelling by road
The Lagos–Abidjan corridor links Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, all ECOWAS members. It is one of West Africa’s busiest travel and trade routes. If you are planning the trip, see bus to Ghana from Lagos and Nigeria to Ivory Coast by road.
Trade and shipping
The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme aims to let goods originating in member states move without customs duties, though traders still face paperwork, checks and informal charges at borders. For moving goods to Ghana and beyond, see Nigeria to Ghana shipping and trans-corridor transport rates.
What about Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger now?
Because they are no longer members, ECOWAS rules no longer automatically apply to travel and trade with the AES states. Before travelling or shipping there, check the latest entry rules with the relevant embassy and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Travelling or shipping within West Africa?
Book road travel along the Lagos–Accra–Abidjan corridor, or send goods across ECOWAS borders with Travo.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are in ECOWAS now?
12, following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger on 29 January 2025.
What are the 12 ECOWAS countries?
Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Which countries left ECOWAS?
Mauritania left in December 2000; Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger left on 29 January 2025 and formed the Alliance of Sahel States.
Where is the ECOWAS headquarters?
Abuja, Nigeria.
When was ECOWAS founded?
On 28 May 1975, by the Treaty of Lagos.
Do Nigerians need a visa for ECOWAS countries?
No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days in member states under the 1979 free movement protocol, but you need a valid passport or ECOWAS travel certificate and should check health requirements.
Is Guinea-Bissau still in ECOWAS?
Yes, it remains a member, but it was suspended on 29 November 2025 following a coup.
Related guides
- Lagos to Ghana by road: complete guide
- How much is Nigeria to Ghana by road?
- Cheap things to buy in Cotonou
- Travo visa guide
Sources: Awajis ECOWAS member states (16 May 2026); Wikipedia: ECOWAS (checked 28 Sep 2026); Africanews (6 Feb 2025); WorldAtlas (14 May 2026). Membership and suspensions can change; check ecowas.int for official updates. Fares and prices change often — confirm before you travel or pay.
