Justice Charlyne Brumskine from Liberia and Justice Désire Aihou from Bénin have emerged as the new President and Vice-President of the Economic Community of West African States Court of Justice, respectively.
The new leadership was elected on Tuesday, October 2026 by the new college of judges.
Their emergence marks the beginning of a new leadership chapter for the regional judicial institution following the
conclusion of the tenure of the outgoing college of judges.
Speaking after the election, Brumskine pledged to uphold judicial independence, strengthen the rule of law and ensure the fair and timely administration of justice.
She said her leadership would build on the achievements of previous administrations while addressing institutional challenges and strengthening the court’s effectiveness and 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.
The new president described her appointment as an opportunity to serve the court, the Economic Community of West African States and the people of the region, rather than a personal distinction.
She said the transition underscored the importance of institutional continuity, noting that the court’s development had been shaped by successive colleges of judges, judicial officers, management and 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,” Brumskine said.
She added that the new leadership would carefully examine 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 emphasised the need to improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of the court’s jurisprudence, while promoting compliance with its judgments.
She said the court would maintain constructive cooperation with other ECOWAS institutions without compromising its judicial independence.
The president further acknowledged the contributions of the court’s management and staff, pledging to promote professionalism, accountability, capacity building, staff welfare and institutional efficiency.
According to her, the incoming leadership will outline its strategic priorities after consultations and a careful 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 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 court’s commitment to justice, fairness and the rule of law, describing its stewardship as temporary but its institutional responsibilities as 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 have at least 20 years of professional experience.