ECOWAS Swears in Five New Judges for Community Court of Justice to Strengthen Regional Legal Framework

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) officially inaugurated five new judges for the Community Court of Justice on October 6, 2026. The swearing-in ceremony, held in Accra at the ECOWAS Commission, was presided over by His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the President of Senegal. These judicial appointments follow the decisions reached during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in July 2026, marking a significant renewal of the sub-region's primary judicial organ.

The newly appointed judges include Mr. Désiré Henri Aihou from Benin, Hon. Justice Awa Bah from The Gambia, Mrs. Charlyne M. Brumskine from Liberia, Mrs. Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu from Nigeria, and Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama from Togo. Each judge will serve a four-year, non-renewable term. Their selection aligns with the December 2025 Supplementary Act, which mandates that members of the court must be of high moral character and possess at least 20 years of professional experience, meeting the qualifications required for appointment to a Supreme Court or equivalent high judicial body in their home countries.

These five jurists replace outgoing justices whose tenures have recently concluded. As their first official order of business, the new bench is required to elect a President and Vice-President from among themselves to steer the court’s leadership for the coming term. The Community Court of Justice remains a cornerstone of the ECOWAS framework, tasked with adjudicating disputes between member states, ensuring the uniform interpretation of regional laws, and protecting the human rights of citizens within the West African community.