The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sworn in five new judges of its Community Court of Justice, with the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, urging them to uphold impartiality and strengthen public confidence in regional justice.
The new judges are Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin; Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia; Charlyne M. Brumskine of Liberia; Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu of Nigeria; and Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo.
Faye administered the oath of office to the judges on Tuesday at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja, charging them to discharge their responsibilities with integrity and without yielding to pressure.
He said the judges were assuming office at a critical period for West Africa, marked by political, economic, security and environmental challenges that required a firm commitment to the rule of law and collective action.
According to him, the Community Court has a crucial responsibility to ensure fairness in the application of ECOWAS legal instruments, protect citizens’ rights and strengthen confidence in regional institutions.
“Through its decisions, it protects rights, serves as a reminder of everyone’s obligations, and strengthens trust in our institutions,” Faye said.
The ECOWAS chairman urged the judges to remain guided by the oath they had taken throughout their four-year tenure, particularly when determining cases before the Court.
He tasked them with administering justice fairly, examining cases according to their conscience and exercising their duties independently and impartially.
“That is why I urge you, throughout the duration of your mandate, to constantly keep in mind—especially at the moment of decision-making—the foundation of your oath,” he said.
Faye said the credibility of the Court would continue to depend largely on the quality of its judgments and the confidence those decisions inspire among citizens.
He also urged the new judges to build on the Court’s achievements while supporting efforts to modernise its operations and make regional justice more effective, accessible and trusted by the public.
The five judges were appointed for a four-year, non-renewable tenure by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 69th Ordinary Session in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026.
Their appointment followed the December 2025 Supplementary Act SA.1/12/25 on the Community Court of Justice.
Under Article 3 of the Act, the Court is to comprise five independent judges selected from nationals of member states who are persons of high moral character and possess the qualifications required for appointment to a Supreme Court or equivalent judicial office.
Candidates are also required to demonstrate recognised competence in international law, particularly community or regional integration law, and have at least 20 years of professional experience.
Article 5 requires each judge to take an oath of office or make a solemn declaration before the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government before assuming office.
The new judges succeed Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves of Cape Verde; Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma of Sierra Leone; Justice Dupe Atoki of Nigeria; Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire; and Justice Edward Amoako Asante of Ghana, whose four-year tenure had expired.
Faye commended the outgoing judges for their contributions to the development of community law and regional integration.
“Through their stewardship and commitment, they have brought community law to life and contributed to building an ECOWAS that is mindful of the principles of justice, respectful of individual rights, and resolutely oriented toward integration,” he said.
Earlier, President of the ECOWAS Commission, General Birame Diop, described the swearing-in as more than a ceremonial event, saying it represented the new judges’ commitment to the citizens of the community and to a common legal order.
Diop said the oath required the judges to set aside personal interests and external influences and serve community law with honour, loyalty, impartiality and conscience.
He said the oath also reflected the recognition by member states of the authority of the Court and their commitment to respecting its independence.
According to Diop, the Community Court has become one of ECOWAS’ most visible and accessible institutions because individuals can approach it to seek redress for violations of their rights.
“By opening its doors to individuals, the Community has given concrete meaning to the idea of an ECOWAS of the peoples, and no longer just of States,” he said.
He added that the Court’s jurisprudence, particularly in the area of human rights, had attracted attention beyond West Africa and remained a source of institutional pride for the region.
Diop called for stronger cooperation among the ECOWAS Commission, Judicial Council, Court, Parliament and member states, stressing that judicial independence and institutional dialogue should reinforce each other.
He further disclosed that work was ongoing on a proposal for the possible establishment of an Appellate Chamber for the Court.
According to him, a committee comprising representatives of ECOWAS institutions had been constituted to examine the proposal, while recommendations from a recent international conference in Dakar would also inform the deliberations.
Diop assured that the Commission would continue to support the process and urged member states to sustain cooperation with the Court to ensure effective implementation of its decisions and strengthen the rule of law across the region.
The five new judges are expected, upon assumption of duty, to elect a President and Vice-President from among themselves for a two-year term.
