Justice Charlyne Brumskine of Liberia has emerged as the new President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice, with Justice Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin elected Vice-President.
The two jurists were elected on Tuesday by the court’s new college of judges, ushering in a new leadership chapter following the conclusion of the tenure of the outgoing college.
Speaking after her election, Brumskine pledged to protect judicial independence, strengthen the rule of law and ensure the fair and timely administration of justice.
She said her administration would build on the achievements of previous leaderships while addressing institutional challenges and improving the court’s effectiveness and credibility.
Brumskine said: “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.”
The new president described her appointment as an opportunity to serve the court, ECOWAS and the people of West Africa rather than a personal distinction.
She said the transition highlighted the importance of institutional continuity, noting that the court had developed through the contributions of successive colleges of judges, judicial officers, management and staff.
Brumskine said: “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.”
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She added that the new leadership would review the handover notes, the court’s state-of-affairs report and relevant legal and administrative documents to ensure continuity in its governance and operations.
Brumskine also pledged to improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of the court’s jurisprudence while encouraging compliance with its judgments.
She said the court would continue to cooperate constructively with other ECOWAS institutions without compromising its judicial independence.
The president further acknowledged the contributions of the court’s management and staff, promising to promote professionalism, accountability, capacity building, staff welfare and institutional efficiency.
According to Brumskine, the incoming leadership would outline its strategic priorities after consultations and a careful assessment of the court’s operations.
She said: “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.”
Brumskine urged members of the incoming college to work collectively, stressing that judicial excellence, mutual respect and shared responsibility would be essential to fulfilling the court’s mandate.
She also reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to justice, fairness and the rule of law, describing its leadership as temporary while its responsibilities to the regional community remained enduring.
Five judges were sworn in on October 7, 2026, in Abuja by Senegalese President Bassirou Faye, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for a four-year, non-renewable tenure.
The 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.
They were appointed by the ECOWAS Authority at its 69th Ordinary Session held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026, pursuant to the December 2025 Supplementary Act relating to the Community Court of Justice.
The law requires candidates for appointment to the court to have at least 20 years of professional experience.
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