established - 14 November 1973
aim - to promote regional economic development and integration
regional members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea- Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
international/nonregional members - (5) African Development Bank, Belgium, European Investment Bank, France, Germany
West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): note - also known as
Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA)
established - 1 August 1994
aim - to increase competitiveness of members' economic markets; to create a common market
members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
Western European Union (WEU): established - 23 October 1954; effective - 6 May 1955
aim - to provide mutual defense and to move toward political unification