The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has elected Liberian Justice Charlyne Brumskine as its new President and Beninese Justice Désiré Henri Aihou as Vice-President, ushering in a new leadership expected to strengthen access to justice and judicial efficiency across the region.

The judges were elected on Tuesday, October 13, by the Court’s newly constituted College of Judges, following the swearing-in of five new judges on October 6 at the ECOWAS Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Their emergence follows the end of the tenure of the outgoing college, which was led by Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves of Cape Verde.

Brumskine and Aihou will lead the Court’s judicial and institutional affairs as it pursues its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, known as Justice 2030. The plan focuses on improving access to justice, enhancing judicial efficiency, strengthening institutional effectiveness and building public confidence in regional justice.

The new college comprises five judges representing Liberia, Benin, The Gambia, Nigeria and Togo. Other members are Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia, Justice Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu of Nigeria and Justice Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo.

In her inaugural address, Brumskine expressed gratitude to her colleagues for electing her, describing the appointment as an opportunity to serve the Court, the ECOWAS Community and the people of West Africa.

She said she accepted the responsibility with an understanding of the expectations attached to leading a regional judicial institution responsible for interpreting and applying Community law and protecting human rights.

Brumskine also described the transition as a significant moment in the Court’s development, stressing continuity, renewal and collective responsibility.

The outgoing President, Justice Gonçalves, said the handover marked the conclusion of the outgoing judges’ tenure and the transfer of responsibilities to their successors. He wished the new college success in its assignment.

In his vote of thanks, Aihou commended the outgoing judges for their service to the Court and the ECOWAS Community. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Court’s management and staff to the handover ceremony.

The new leadership pledged to uphold judicial independence, impartiality, integrity and accountability while working to improve the effectiveness, accessibility and credibility of regional justice.

The ECOWAS Court is the Community’s principal judicial organ, with a mandate that includes interpreting and applying Community law, adjudicating disputes and addressing human rights violations within member states. Its leadership will be central to advancing the Court’s priorities over the coming years.