Last July in Banjul, Gambia, we had the honor of being among the first winners of the inaugural ECOWAS Media Excellence Award, organized as part of the fiftieth anniversary of the regional body and rewarding the best media productions on regional integration in West Africa.

Before the awards ceremony, we had the opportunity to speak with the award recipients. This allowed us to see a wide range of topics covered, from diverse fields such as peace and security, economic integration, human rights, education, health, energy, and justice, thus gaining a sense of the remarkable achievements of our Regional Economic Community in all member countries. This demonstrates how and to what extent ECOWAS has played its role in the ideal of integration formulated at its creation in 1975. Initially focused on economic integration, ECOWAS later expanded into the areas of peace and security, democracy, and human rights. Due to a lack of communication and community building, many of its success stories remain unknown or untold to the West African populations who are their primary beneficiaries. One of the most recurring and frequent resonances of this fifty-year history of ECOWAS is undoubtedly the reactions to the constitutional ruptures that have punctuated West Africa in recent years.

This has benefited the organization's detractors, who have even called for its abolition, particularly following the split within the Confederation of Sahel States (CSA). However, on the African continent, ECOWAS, with its half-century of existence, stands out from other African regional integration entities, having far surpassed the other. Whether it be the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), or the Southern African Development Community (SADC), none of these structures surpasses the West African organization in terms of achievements related to regional integration. It is not without reason that in 2017, a country like Morocco, even as a member of another regional economic community, the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), submitted an application to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). But despite all its achievements, ECOWAS is not without weaknesses that hinder its progress towards becoming a large and influential regional economic community . The overreach of some of its bodies, such as the Conference of Heads of State and Government, which dominates other structures, reflecting the way African countries operate, must therefore be reviewed and corrected. We should thus welcome this diplomatic victory for Senegal, which, for the first time, will have one of its own at the head of the Commission, the body that provides the organization's secretariat and is crucial to its governance. Given its political trajectory and democratic history, Senegal is well-positioned to inject new momentum and breathe new life into the regional organization. One of the most urgent tasks to accelerate reform is to give more power to bodies other than the Conference of Heads of State and Government.

Strengthening the Parliament and the Court of Justice is therefore essential to achieving the goals of an ECOWAS that is truly people-centered and closer to the populations of West Africa. The performances of certain members of parliament, such as Guy Marius Sagna from Senegal, in the ECOWAS Parliament, even if not universally acclaimed, have helped to place this institution at the heart of discussions among West African populations. We must soon move towards direct elections for the members of this Parliament, as is the case for European Parliament members, thereby placing this structure at the center of concerns and public opinion in our region. With bodies whose powers are balanced between the Conference of Heads of State and Government, the Parliament, and the Court of Justice, it will be easier to establish criteria for democratic convergence, as is the case with the WAEMU in the economic sphere, so that democracy is more firmly rooted in our region. This will make it easier to combat the sources of instability, whether through armed conflict (coups d'état) or through elections (enforcing term limits). Beyond the institutional aspects, the other challenge is to place the integration project at the heart of people's lives so that ECOWAS can have more influence and become the voice of the voiceless, thus becoming the ECOWAS of the people—a pious and radiant aspiration, so fervently desired and proclaimed since its inception. Building an ECOWAS of the people also means involving religious and traditional figures in the construction of integration. Senegalese religious structures like the Fayda Tidiane of Medina Baye could play a significant role. The influence of this religious and social institution throughout West Africa, and especially in Nigeria, the largest country in ECOWAS in terms of both economy and population, would be a valuable asset, as would Senegal.

With a population predominantly composed of young people, it will be necessary to focus on activities such as sports and culture to engage youth in integration efforts. In addition to the traditional wrestling tournaments organized by ECOWAS, incorporating football or cultural festivals will help the regional body further solidify its position on the path to integration. Given its advantages, and especially the current circumstances that have positioned Senegal as a champion of democracy and African integration, our country has the assets to implement the far-reaching and significant reforms that ECOWAS needs.

*Journalist, Winner of the first ECOWAS Media Awards

PS: Senegal's other advantage will be having two of its citizens represented simultaneously in Africa's two largest and most important organizations, ECOWAS and WAEMU. More than a coincidence, this is a rare opportunity that must be seized to solidify our leadership!