Justice Charlyne Brumskine of Liberia and Justice Désiré Aihou of Benin have emerged as President and Vice-President, respectively, of the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
The community court announced this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, saying the new leadership was elected by the newly constituted College of Judges.
The election marks a new chapter for the regional judicial institution following the expiration of the tenure of the outgoing College of Judges.
Brumskine and Aihou will lead the court’s judicial and institutional affairs as part of the new judges’ four-year, non-renewable mandate, which runs until 2030.
The other members of the new College of Judges are Justices Awa Bah of The Gambia, Henrietta Didigu of Nigeria and Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo.
Their emergence followed the swearing-in of the five newly appointed judges on October 6 at the new headquarters of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja.
The ceremony was presided over by Senegalese President Bassirou Faye, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The transition comes as the Court begins implementing its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, tagged Justice 2030, aimed at strengthening access to justice, improving judicial efficiency and enhancing institutional effectiveness.
The plan also seeks to increase the Court’s visibility, consolidate public confidence in regional justice and ensure that its services respond more effectively to the needs of citizens across West Africa.
As President, Brumskine will provide overall judicial leadership and represent the Court in its institutional and external engagements, while Aihou will support her and perform other duties in line with the Court’s governing framework.
In her inaugural address, Brumskine described her election as an opportunity to serve the Court, the ECOWAS Community and the people of West Africa with commitment and a strong sense of responsibility.
“I accept this responsibility, fully conscious of the obligations it entails, and the expectations that accompany leading a regional judicial institution, entrusted with interpreting and applying community law and protecting human rights,” she said.
Brumskine said the formal handover from the outgoing to the incoming College of Judges represented an important moment of continuity, renewal and collective responsibility in the Court’s institutional development.
The outgoing President, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves of Cape Verde, said the handover marked the conclusion of the tenure of the five departing judges and the transfer of responsibilities to their successors, underscoring the continuity of the institution beyond individual officeholders.
In his vote of thanks, Aihou commended the outgoing judges for their service to the Court and the Community, while acknowledging the management, Acting Chief Registrar, directors and staff for organising the ceremony.
The new leadership pledged to uphold judicial independence, impartiality, integrity and accountability, and to work collectively to strengthen the effectiveness, accessibility and credibility of regional justice.
The new College of Judges succeeds five outgoing members: Justices Ricardo Gonçalves of Cape Verde, Sengu Koroma of Sierra Leone, Dupe Atoki of Nigeria, Gberi-Bè Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire and Edward Asante of Ghana.
Source: NAN
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