By Stephen G. Fellajuah
ABUJA, Nigeria, October 14, 2026 — Liberian jurist Cllr. Charlyne M. Brumskine has assumed the presidency of the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), marking a significant milestone for Liberia’s representation in regional judicial leadership.
Elected by her fellow judges, Brumskine pledged to strengthen institutional continuity, uphold the court’s core values, and advance its mandate to interpret and apply community law and protect human rights.
In her address during the formal transition from the outgoing leadership to the incoming college of judges, Brumskine described the handover as a defining moment of renewal, continuity, and collective responsibility in the court’s institutional development.
“With profound humility and a deep sense of duty, I address you as the newly elected president of this distinguished judicial court,” she said.
Brumskine emphasized that the presidency should not be viewed as a personal distinction but as an opportunity to serve the court, the ECOWAS community, and the people of West Africa.
She noted that the court’s institutional strength depended on the collective contributions of successive generations of judges, judicial officers, management, and staff.
According to her, the incoming leadership must build on the foundations established by its predecessors rather than begin anew, while preserving the court’s core values and responding constructively to emerging challenges.
Brumskine also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing presidents and judges, recognizing their role in shaping the court’s institutional experience and jurisprudence.
She further acknowledged the solemn responsibilities entrusted to the incoming leadership, particularly as the institution continues to exercise its regional judicial mandate.
Brumskine’s elevation follows her appointment as a judge of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, which was approved at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on July 19, 2026, in Lungi, Sierra Leone.
She was formally sworn in as a judge on October 6, 2026, in Abuja, with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, administering the oath of office.
She is the first Liberian woman to serve as a judge of the regional court, marking a milestone for women’s representation in West African judicial institutions.
Her election as president further advances Liberia’s representation within the regional institution, which interprets and applies ECOWAS legal instruments and hears human rights cases falling within its jurisdiction.
Brumskine’s leadership begins with an emphasis on continuity, institutional accountability, and collective responsibility as the court continues its work to advance justice and uphold the rule of law across the West African region.
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