The Kingdom of Morocco has officially applied for joining the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a full member. 
The application has been submitted to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and president of Liberia, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. 
The Moroccan bid culminates Morocco's efforts to strengthen its relations with the African regional bloc and the visits of King Mohammad VI to many ECOWAS member states, the statement noted. 
Founded on May 28, 1975, the 15-member regional group aims to promote economic integration, foster the idea of collective self-sufficiency and create a common market; its member countries Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d' Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo. 

Source: QNA