ECOWAS court gets new judges

The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has inaugurated five new judges to serve for a four-year term without the option to be reappointed. The new judges are Désiré Henri Aihou from Benin, Awa Bah from The Gambia, Brumskine from Liberia, Didigu from Nigeria, and Ouro-Sama from Togo.

They were sworn in during a ceremony led by the ECOWAS Chairman and President of Senegal, Bassirou Faye, on Tuesday in Abuja. The appointment of these judges was made at the ECOWAS Authority's 69th Ordinary Session held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026, in accordance with the December 2025 Supplementary Act. This Act stipulates that the Court's judges must be impartial, qualified professionals with extensive experience in international or regional law.

Speaking at the ceremony, Faye called upon the judges to uphold impartiality, integrity, and a commitment to safeguarding citizens' rights throughout the region. He emphasized that the court plays a crucial role in preserving human rights and reinforcing the confidence in ECOWAS institutions.