This year’s summit of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) takes place against a challenging environment for the regional bloc.
Recent developments in the region have included coups, insecurity and economic instability. Climate change also poses challenges.
Six successful and two attempted coups in the region since 2020 were followed by the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the bloc. All three were founding members of Ecowas (in 1975) and are key countries in the Sahel.