West Africa

West Africa is composed of 17 countries stretching from Cape Verde in the western part of the continent to Chad in the east. They include fifteen countries that are members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) plus Mauritania and Chad. Cameroon is also taken into account given its important role in the Lake Chad Basin. The region covers a surface area of 7,800,000 km², equivalent to 21 times the surface area of Japan, 2.5 times that of the European Union and approximately 85% of Canada or the United States.

> full-size map (2 Mb)

  SWAC's Perception of the Region

While taking into account the problems and challenges, the Sahel and West Africa Club has developed a retrospective approach and a prospective vision of West Africa which focuses on the identification and promotion of dynamics of change as well as the drivers of change. West Africa has experienced significant social, cultural, institutional and political transformations and should not be perceived as a stagnant region but rather as a region in constant evolution, capable of great adaptation and progress. The purpose is not to say that “everything is going well” but rather to recognise the considerable efforts made by West Africans with the support of their development partners.