Abidjan: Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has alleged that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has become a propaganda tool for France, while failing to address critical issues faced by its member states. Established in 1975 with the aim of promoting economic integration, ECOWAS has come under fire from Gbagbo, who argues that the organization has not effectively tackled regional challenges such as terrorism. According to Burkina Information Agency, Gbagbo expressed his concerns during an interview on the Afro Media channel, highlighting the persistent threat of terrorist groups across West African nations including Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Togo. He criticized ECOWAS for its perceived inaction, questioning its support for Nigeria, a leading member of the community, in its ongoing battle against Boko Haram since 2002. Gbagbo, who served as Côte d'Ivoire's president from 2000 to 2011, emphasized the need for ECOWAS to actively find solutions to the problems faced b y its members. He warned that a failure to unite and address these issues would lead to member states departing from the organization. The former leader also criticized the broader African leadership structures, such as the Organization of African Unity and its successor, the African Union, for their reliance on foreign funding. Gbagbo pointed out the irony in the African Union's headquarters being constructed by a foreign power and its operations being financed by the European Union, which he argued undermines the institution's claim to independence. Gbagbo proposed that African countries, particularly those in ECOWAS, should work towards establishing a single currency to resolve economic issues. His comments come in the wake of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger forming the Alliance of Sahel States in September 2023 and subsequently leaving ECOWAS in January 2024, citing dissatisfaction with the organization's sanctions, lack of mutual aid against terrorism, and foreign influence. Source: Burkina Information Agency