On 18 November 2010, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held that legal reforms adopted by Senegal in 2007 to incorporate international crimes into the national Penal Code to enable its domestic courts to prosecute Hissene Habre for, among others, crimes against humanity committed in Chad twenty years before, violated the principle of legality, specifically the principle against non-retroactivity of criminal law. The court held that such crimes could be prosecuted only by a hybrid tribunal with the jurisdiction to try Habre for the international crimes based on general principles of law common to the community of nations. Some scholars opined that the ECOWAS decision was wrong, stating that the crimes in question were criminalised already under international law and that Senegal‟s legal reforms simply served jurisdictional purposes. Given that, as a core component of the principle of legality, the role of non-retroactivity is to prohibit the creation of new crimes and their application to past conduct, the opinions of such scholars may hold true. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2011. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / nf2012 / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

This thesis provides an assessment of monetary integration in the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) focusing upon its feasibility and trade implications, in order to inform policy about the group’s deep integration scheme. The first aspect of the original contribution of the thesis focuses on one of the main issues in the debate of the monetary union in the WAMZ, namely the degree of asymmetry in macroeconomic shocks. The study examines the real effective exchange rate (REER) behaviour among the prospective candidates to assess the degree of potential costs of giving up monetary policy autonomy. The evidence reported from VECM, impulse response and variance decomposition analysis points to heterogeneous economies. Therefore, idiosyncratic shocks imply the need for different policy responses to adjust to macroeconomic shocks. The findings strengthen the case for policy autonomy in the region. The second aspect of original contribution of the thesis evaluates the potential effect of a common currency on trade among WAMZ member countries. Using the existing currency union in ECOWAS, the CFA franc zone, the chapter estimates the effect of a common currency on bilateral trade over the period 1980-2016 using the gravity model. The main conclusion reached is that membership of the CFA franc zone has promoted bilateral trade among members by 60%. The findings support the hypothesis that a common currency increases bilateral trade, which is a helpful guide for a WAMZ monetary union. In summary, the thesis demonstrates that in the long term, a common currency would promote intra-community trade, but at present, a monetary union is not feasible due to asymmetric macroeconomic shocks. Therefore WAMZ deep integration scheme would require members instituting adequate alternative adjustment mechanisms such as fiscal transfer schemes. / Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the financial support and Division of Economics (now Accounting, Finance and Economics Group) for the offering of the Graduate Teaching Assistant Studentship

This study is an attempt at determining the normative legitimacy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). At its core, it scrutinizes the current mandate of the organization following the layering of economic integration objectives with human rights protection, sustenance of democracy, and the rule of law. The study discusses the elements of legitimacy across disciplines mainly, international law, international relations and political science. Legitimacy is eventually split along two divides, the normative and descriptive/sociological aspects. The study traces the normative content (shared/common values) underlying integration in Africa, concluding that integration has been born on new ideals such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Expectedly, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as building blocks of the prospective African Economic Community (AEC) under the African Union (AU) regime are mandated to play a vital role in moving the continent forward upon these values. The inquiry is extended to the institutions of ECOWAS to determine their capacity to effectively implement the new mandate of the organization and operate supranationally. In the process, key legal and institutional shortcomings are discussed, particularly in relation to national institutions. It is argued that while human rights protection enhances the normative legitimacy of ECOWAS, it must not be pursued in isolation. Economic integration and protection of citizens’ rights are co-terminus and mutually reinforcing. Hence, community institutions must reflect this link if they are to be effective. The study concludes on the note that, while ECOWAS possesses layers of legitimacy, and have carried out legitimation steps, it cannot be considered a legitimate organization if Member States continue to be non-compliant with community objectives and if key legal questions remain unaddressed. It is submitted that ECOWAS is merely undergoing legitimation, whether it can eventually be considered a legitimate organization is dependent on addressing the identified challenges.

Though rich in natural resources and wealth generating potential, West African nations are currently marred by war, political instability, and economic uncertainty. While many factors have contributed to this, there are solutions to alleviate the plight of West African people. As post-colonial West Africa struggles to organize its individual economies, human resources and infrastructure to adequately manage natural resources; I explore regional economic integration of nations, the role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its regional functions, and postulate a synthesis for sustainable development, growth and stability through the promotion of a healthy and robust economy.

This thesis is devoted to analyzing the impact of Chinese investments in the region of West Africa on relations between ECOWAS and European Union. The first chapter characterizes Community of West African States - geographically, demographically and especially in the area of macroeconomics. Following chapter focuses itself on relations of PRC and ECOWAS. Particular attention is paid to foreign direct investments, which is China realizing in the area. ECOWAS relations with the European Union and the changes that have occurred in recent years are described in the third chapter of the thesis. A separate section describes the Economic Partnership Agreements. The conclusion represents the analysis of changes in trade relations between ECOWAS and the EU.

Student Number : 0414488P - MA research report - School of Social Sciences - Faculty of Humanities / This study aims at highlighting the politics of international cooperation with respect to monetary integration in West Africa. Monetary integration was envisaged in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) when the organization was formed in 1975. Two decades after its formation, it was realized by member states that limited success had been achieved as far as the objectives of the organization were concerned. As a result, the ECOWAS Treaty was revised and significant decisions were made in 1993, and the call for a monetary union was reiterated. Factors which could have worked against the formation of a monetary union prior to 1993 changed in favour of monetary cooperation. The adoption of the Euro in the European Union and more especially by France, weakened the symbolic link of the CFA Franc zone to France, and to an extent reduced the French stigma, which had hitherto discouraged Anglophone countries from participating in an expanded monetary union with their Francophone counterparts. The democratic transition of Nigeria and the accession to power of a new leader who has shown commitment to regional integration, improved cooperation arrangements among ECOWAS states in working towards the formalization of a monetary union. The transformation from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU) and its strategy of creating a common African currency as well as the emergence of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) provided extra motivations for African states to show more commitment towards integration. Based on the above factors, several positive steps have been taken towards the formalization of a monetary union in the community. The West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) was realized in 2000 and more importantly, the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) was created and started operating in the same year. The Institute was created to prepare the groundwork for the creation of the West African Central Bank. The above mentioned factors increased the prospects of forming a monetary union in the community but several challenges still remain. First there is the problem of the asymmetric nature of the economies in the region. Secondly, political instability is a major factor that militates against the formation of such a union. Domestic political instability in Nigeria, which is heightened by ethnic and religious differences as well as the asymmetric nature of her economy in relation to those of other states in the region, makes it difficult for a monetary union to revolve around her. This research project is centered on Treaties, statistical analysis, theories and concepts and literature from economic and financial institutions. We conclude by stating that the analysis here reflects the situation on the ground and provide lessons to member states of the community, prospects for monetary integration would be further improved if member states work coherently to overcome such challenges.

Na África Ocidental iniciou-se desde a década de 1940, com a criação da União Econômica e Monetária do Oeste Africano (UEMOA) em 1945, uma transformação socioeconômica centrada na redefinição das relações entre os países da região. Antes restritas à laços coloniais, com a criação da Comunidade Econômica dos Estados da África Ocidental (CEDEAO) em 1975 as mudanças transcenderam aspectos coloniais. Nesses esforços, o setor agrícola mereceu destaque, que resultou em compilação e harmonização das políticas agrícolas dos países da região para formar políticas regionais do setor - políticas agrícolas da UEMOA e da CEDEAO -. A produção agrícola é a base do desenvolvimento dos países da África Ocidental, constitui importante determinante das dinâmicas socioeconômicas desses países. Assim, o objetivo neste trabalho é investigar a estrutura de produção, desempenho e comércio internacional do setor agrícola da África Ocidental. Utilizou-se a fronteira estocástica na forma funcional transcendental para estimação dos parâmetros estruturais da produção agrícola. Buscou-se detectar o esforço pró-desenvolvimento agrícola por meio de adaptação do modelo de Lei Dinâmica de Verdoorn, com inclusão de fontes locais disponíveis para o financiamento da melhoria de produtividade agrícola. Por meio de teste de raiz unitária aplicado aos dados em painel, foi analisada a convergência da produtividade agrícola entre os países da África Ocidental. E, foi utilizado o modelo gravitacional estrutural expandido para investigar comércio internacional agrícola da região. Os resultados mostraram que, as transformações da Comunidade Econômica dos Estados da África Ocidental (CEDEAO) constituem principais causas da quebra estrutural no setor agrícola regional. As participações relativas dos fatores na produção agrícola entre os subperíodos antes e depois das mudanças políticas da CEDEAO são diferentes, a área é o mais importante determinante da evolução desta produção. Quanto a produtividade, embora convergentes, os países da região não alocaram prioritariamente os recursos disponíveis para o desenvolvimento agrícola, em particular no setor privado. E, o padrão global das transações agrícolas internacionais desta região é dominantemente definido pelas transações extra-regionais e existem diferenças entre os determinantes intra e extra-regionais. Nas transações globais, os fluxos são maiores entre os países membros da Comunidade Econômica dos Estados da África Ocidental (CEDEAO) e União Econômica e Monetária do Oeste Africano (UEMOA) não afeta significativamente esses fluxos. Ao passo que, no comércio agrícola intra-regional a CEDEAO não impacta significativamente e os fluxos são maiores entre os países membros da UEMOA. A distância geográfica não exerce efeitos significativos no comércio internacional agrícola extra-regional da África Ocidental. / In West Africa, it began since 1940s with fundation of West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) in 1945, a socioeconomic transformation centered on the redefinition of relations between the countries of the region. Previously restricted to colonial ties, with the creation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1975 the changes transcended colonial aspects. In these efforts, the agricultural sector was highlighted, which resulted in the compilation and harmonization of the agricultural policies of the countries of the region to form regional policies of the sector - agricultural policies of UEMOA and ECOWAS -. Agricultural production is the basis of development of West African countries, an important determinant of the socioeconomic dynamics of these countries. Thus, the objective in this work is to investigate production structure, performance and international trade of West African agricultural sector. The stochastic frontier was used in the transcendental functional form to estimate the structural parameters of agricultural production. It was sought to detect the pro-agricultural development effort by adapting the Verdoorn Dynamic Law model, with the inclusion of local sources available to finance the improvement of agricultural productivity. Using a unit root test applied to the panel data, the convergence of agricultural productivity among West African countries was analyzed. And, the expanded Structural Gravity Model was used to investigate the region\'s international agricultural trade. The results showed that the transformations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are the main causes of the structural break in the regional agricultural sector. The relative participation of factors in agricultural production between the subperiods before and after the ECOWAS political changes are different, the area is the most important determinant of the evolution of this production. In terms of productivity, although convergent, the countries of the region did not allocate the resources available to agricultural development as priority, particularly in the private sector. And, the overall pattern of international agricultural transactions in this region is dominantly defined by extra-regional transactions and there are differences between intra- and extra-regional determinants. In global transactions, flows are higher among member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) does not significantly affect these flows. Whereas, in intra-regional agricultural trade, ECOWAS does not have a significant impact and flows are greater among WAEMU member countries. Geographical distance has no significant effect on West African extra-regional agricultural international trade.

L'Afrique doit vivre au rythme de la mondialisation, sinon, dit-on, elle courrait le risque de se marginaliser, alors qu'elle dispose des outils pour cette adaptation. A cet effet, elle doit lutter contre la fragmentation de ses marchés et se construire des espaces régionaux supranationaux. Dans cette optique, l'intégration économique a été choisie par les Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest comme une voie de développement, car le cadre d'un marché unifié permet d'éliminer les rentes monopolistiques. Les Etats africains engagés dans ce processus d'intégration dépassent le cadre restreint de leurs marchés confinés, en vue de la création d'un espace commun de libre concurrence. Toutefois, le jeu de cette libre concurrence peut être faussé par certaines pratiques anticoncurrentielles, qu'il faut donc réglementer. L'avènement d'un environnement concurrentiel, principal objectif des organisations d'intégration ouest-africaines que sont l'UEMOA et la CEDEAO, ne sera donc possible qu'au moyen de règles conduisant à une concurrence effective. L'effectivité d'un droit communautaire de la concurrence dépendra essentiellement de sa mise en œuvre et de sa cohérence avec le cadre économique dans lequel s'exerce la liberté de concurrence, c'est-à-dire le Marché commun. Par la mise en œuvre d'une politique de concurrence et la mise en place de politiques économiques efficaces pour le fonctionnement du Marché commun, l'Afrique de l'Ouest parviendra au développent économique. La thèse met en évidence la nécessaire interaction entre l'efficience du Marché commun et la politique régionale de concurrence en Afrique de l'Ouest, à travers les instruments de construction du Marché et les instruments de la protection de la concurrence. / Africa should live in the frame of globalization. Otherwise it could be pushed off despite it owns proper tools for such an adaptation. Africa should wrestle against markets segmentations and built up supranational economic areas. In this aim economical integration, has been set up by western African countries as a way for development, in as the frame of a single markets allows elimination of monopolies. African states involved in this integration process overcome the restricted areas in the view to create a free competition space. Nevertheless, this free competition might be disturbed by anti-competition practices, to be regulated. Coming to a competitive surrounding, main target for West African unions (such as UEMOA and CEDEAO), won't be affordable apart from adopting rules leading to a true competition. Effectiveness of community competition law will be mainly linked to its implementation and its cohesion with the economical frame where is applied the free competition i.e the common market. Western Africa will reach economic development by setting up a competition policy and economical efficient policy. The thesis underlines the necessary interaction between un efficient common market and original competitions policy in western Africa thru legal instruments for building up the markets and competition protection.

Na África Ocidental iniciou-se desde a década de 1940, com a criação da União Econômica e Monetária do Oeste Africano (UEMOA) em 1945, uma transformação socioeconômica centrada na redefinição das relações entre os países da região. Antes restritas à laços coloniais, com a criação da Comunidade Econômica dos Estados da África Ocidental (CEDEAO) em 1975 as mudanças transcenderam aspectos coloniais. Nesses esforços, o setor agrícola mereceu destaque, que resultou em compilação e harmonização das políticas agrícolas dos países da região para formar políticas regionais do setor - políticas agrícolas da UEMOA e da CEDEAO -. A produção agrícola é a base do desenvolvimento dos países da África Ocidental, constitui importante determinante das dinâmicas socioeconômicas desses países. Assim, o objetivo neste trabalho é investigar a estrutura de produção, desempenho e comércio internacional do setor agrícola da África Ocidental. Utilizou-se a fronteira estocástica na forma funcional transcendental para estimação dos parâmetros estruturais da produção agrícola. Buscou-se detectar o esforço pró-desenvolvimento agrícola por meio de adaptação do modelo de Lei Dinâmica de Verdoorn, com inclusão de fontes locais disponíveis para o financiamento da melhoria de produtividade agrícola. Por meio de teste de raiz unitária aplicado aos dados em painel, foi analisada a convergência da produtividade agrícola entre os países da África Ocidental. E, foi utilizado o modelo gravitacional estrutural expandido para investigar comércio internacional agrícola da região. Os resultados mostraram que, as transformações da Comunidade Econômica dos Estados da África Ocidental (CEDEAO) constituem principais causas da quebra estrutural no setor agrícola regional. As participações relativas dos fatores na produção agrícola entre os subperíodos antes e depois das mudanças políticas da CEDEAO são diferentes, a área é o mais importante determinante da evolução desta produção. Quanto a produtividade, embora convergentes, os países da região não alocaram prioritariamente os recursos disponíveis para o desenvolvimento agrícola, em particular no setor privado. E, o padrão global das transações agrícolas internacionais desta região é dominantemente definido pelas transações extra-regionais e existem diferenças entre os determinantes intra e extra-regionais. Nas transações globais, os fluxos são maiores entre os países membros da Comunidade Econômica dos Estados da África Ocidental (CEDEAO) e União Econômica e Monetária do Oeste Africano (UEMOA) não afeta significativamente esses fluxos. Ao passo que, no comércio agrícola intra-regional a CEDEAO não impacta significativamente e os fluxos são maiores entre os países membros da UEMOA. A distância geográfica não exerce efeitos significativos no comércio internacional agrícola extra-regional da África Ocidental. / In West Africa, it began since 1940s with fundation of West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) in 1945, a socioeconomic transformation centered on the redefinition of relations between the countries of the region. Previously restricted to colonial ties, with the creation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1975 the changes transcended colonial aspects. In these efforts, the agricultural sector was highlighted, which resulted in the compilation and harmonization of the agricultural policies of the countries of the region to form regional policies of the sector - agricultural policies of UEMOA and ECOWAS -. Agricultural production is the basis of development of West African countries, an important determinant of the socioeconomic dynamics of these countries. Thus, the objective in this work is to investigate production structure, performance and international trade of West African agricultural sector. The stochastic frontier was used in the transcendental functional form to estimate the structural parameters of agricultural production. It was sought to detect the pro-agricultural development effort by adapting the Verdoorn Dynamic Law model, with the inclusion of local sources available to finance the improvement of agricultural productivity. Using a unit root test applied to the panel data, the convergence of agricultural productivity among West African countries was analyzed. And, the expanded Structural Gravity Model was used to investigate the region\'s international agricultural trade. The results showed that the transformations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are the main causes of the structural break in the regional agricultural sector. The relative participation of factors in agricultural production between the subperiods before and after the ECOWAS political changes are different, the area is the most important determinant of the evolution of this production. In terms of productivity, although convergent, the countries of the region did not allocate the resources available to agricultural development as priority, particularly in the private sector. And, the overall pattern of international agricultural transactions in this region is dominantly defined by extra-regional transactions and there are differences between intra- and extra-regional determinants. In global transactions, flows are higher among member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) does not significantly affect these flows. Whereas, in intra-regional agricultural trade, ECOWAS does not have a significant impact and flows are greater among WAEMU member countries. Geographical distance has no significant effect on West African extra-regional agricultural international trade.

Cette thèse propose une évaluation des effets potentiels de l’Accord de partenariat économique (APE) entre l’Union européenne (UE) et l’Afrique de l’Ouest sur l’agriculture et les ménages sénégalais. En effet, après plus de 12 ans de discussions, la Communauté Économique des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) dans sa majorité a signé l’APE avec l’UE, le volet commercial de l’Accord de Cotonou. L’APE est ainsi devenu le nouveau cadre de coopération économique et commercial entre l’UE et le Sénégal avec l’établissement à terme d’une zone de de libre-échange réciproque entre l’UE et les pays ACP, cependant asymétrique et mettant ainsi fin au régime des conventions de Lomé, qui était basé sur les préférences commerciales non réciproques. Cette étude est basée sur le modèle d’équilibre général calculable (MEGC) uni-pays développé par Bouët et al (2001). Il s’agit à la base d’un modèle statique avec l’hypothèse de concurrence parfaite et non monétaire qui décrit une petite économie ouverte comme le Sénégal. En effet, le Sénégal est un pays en développement importateur net de produits alimentaires et très dépendant du commerce international notamment pour couvrir ses besoins alimentaires. Ce MEGC a été enrichi par l’introduction de l’approche théorique « Dual-Dual » élaborée par Stifel et Thorbecke (2003) pour tenir compte des spécificités de la plupart des économies africaines comme le Sénégal notamment un secteur informel très développé et la migration rural-urbain d’une part et d’autre part parce que la quasi-totalité des MEGC utilisés pour étudier l’économie sénégalaise n’intègre pas ces aspects structurels. De plus, pour bien prendre en compte l’APE dans nos simulations nous avons rajouté deux étages au niveau des exportations et des importations pour bien distinguer les origines/destinations CEDEAO et UE. Le modèle utilisé est calibré sur une matrice de comptabilité sociale (MCS) pour l’année 2006 construite dans le cadre de cette thèse. Pour appréhender les effets sur les ménages, trois enquêtes ménages ont été utilisées pour identifier 78 ménages représentatifs. Pour les données tarifaires, le nouveau tarif extérieur commun de la CEDEAO (TEC CEDEAO) en vigueur depuis le 1er janvier 2015 a été utilisé. Les résultats ont révélé que l’APE est une réforme commerciale qui n’offre pas des perspectives de gains réels pour le Sénégal car elle implique essentiellement une ouverture de l'économie sénégalaise aux seuls produits européens et n'améliore pas l'accès de l'économie sénégalaise aux économies du reste du monde. Sur le plan des analyses de bien-être, l’APE ne permet pas de réduire la pauvreté et les inégalités / This PHD thesis proposes an assessment of the potential effects of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and West Africa on Senegalese agriculture and households. Indeed, after 12 years of negotiations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its majority signed the EPA with the EU, the trade component of the Cotonou Agreement. Thus, the EPA has become the new framework for economic and trade cooperation between the EU and Senegal. The objective to the end is the establishment of a reciprocal free trade area between the EU and ACP countries, however asymmetrical and putting an end to the Lome Agreement, which was based on non-reciprocal trade preferences. This study is based on the Single country computable general equilibrium model (CGE) developed by Bouët et al (2001). It is a static model with the assumption of perfect competition and non-monetary, which describes a small open economy such as Senegal. Indeed, Senegal is a net food-importer developing country and very dependent on international trade specially to cover its food needs. This CGE was enriched by the introduction of the "Dual-Dual" theoretical approach developed by Stifel and Thorbecke (2003) to reflect the specificities of most African economies like Senegal i.e. a large informal sector and migration rural-urban firstly and secondly because almost all the CGE models used to study the Senegalese economy does not incorporate these structural aspects. In addition, to better capture the EPA in our simulations we added two stages in exports and imports modelling to distinguish the origins / destinations ECOWAS and EU. The model is calibrated on a 2006 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) built as part of this thesis. To understand the effects on households, three household surveys were used to identify 78 representative households. For tariff data, the new ECOWAS Common External Tariff (ECOWAS CET) launched on January 1st 2015 was used. The results revealed that the EPA is a trade reform that offers no real earnings prospects for Senegal because it essentially implies openness of the Senegalese economy only to European products and does not improve the access of Senegalese economy to other economies of the World. In terms of welfare analysis, the EPA did not reduce poverty and inequality.