The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has elected Justice Charlyne Brumskine of Liberia as its new president, with Justice Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin emerging as vice-president.
Key Highlights
- Justice Charlyne Brumskine of Liberia elected president of the ECOWAS Court.
- Justice Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin emerges as vice-president.
- Brumskine pledges judicial independence, the rule of law and timely delivery of justice.
- Five new judges were sworn in on October 7, 2026, in Abuja for a four-year, non-renewable term.
- Nigeria’s Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu is among the new judges.
The two judges were elected on Tuesday by the newly constituted college of judges, ushering in a new leadership following the conclusion of the tenure of the previous college.
Speaking after her election, Brumskine pledged to protect judicial independence, uphold the rule of law and improve the fair and timely delivery of justice across the regional court’s jurisdiction.
She said her administration would build on the achievements of previous leaderships while tackling institutional challenges and strengthening the court’s effectiveness and public credibility.
“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 described her election as an opportunity to serve the court, ECOWAS and the people of West Africa, rather than a personal achievement.
She stressed the importance of maintaining institutional continuity, noting that the court’s progress had depended on the contributions of successive judges, judicial officers, management and other staff.
“The incoming college’s responsibility, therefore, is not to begin anew but to build on the foundations already established, preserve the institution’s core values, and respond constructively to the challenges and opportunities ahead,” she said.
Brumskine’s Priorities
The new president said the incoming leadership would review handover notes, the court’s state-of-affairs report and relevant legal and administrative documents to ensure a smooth transition and continuity in the institution’s operations.
She also identified the need to improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of the court’s judgments, alongside stronger compliance with its decisions.
Brumskine pledged to maintain constructive working relationships with other ECOWAS institutions while ensuring that the court’s judicial independence remained protected.
She further promised to promote professionalism, accountability, staff welfare, capacity building and administrative efficiency, acknowledging the role of the court’s management and personnel in delivering its mandate.
According to her, the new leadership would determine its strategic priorities after consultations and a detailed assessment of the court’s operations.
“These priorities will focus on consolidating our predecessors’ achievements, addressing existing institutional challenges, and further strengthening the court’s effectiveness, credibility, and service to the ECOWAS community,” she said.
Brumskine also urged members of the new college to work together, describing judicial excellence, mutual respect and shared responsibility as essential to the effective administration of justice.
She reaffirmed the court’s commitment to fairness and the rule of law, adding that while individual tenures were temporary, the institution’s responsibilities would endure.
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New Judges Sworn In
The leadership election followed the swearing-in of five judges on October 7, 2026, in Abuja by Senegalese President Bassirou Faye, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. The judges will serve a four-year, non-renewable term.
The newly sworn-in judges are Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin, Awa Bah of The Gambia, Charlyne M. Brumskine of Liberia, Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu of Nigeria and Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo.
The ECOWAS Authority appointed the judges at its 69th Ordinary Session in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026, in line with the December 2025 Supplementary Act governing the Community Court of Justice.
The legislation requires candidates for appointment to the court to have at least 20 years of professional experience.
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