Justice Brumskine of Liberia Emerges ECOWAS Court President

Justice Charlyne M. Brumskine of Liberia has emerged as the President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice while Justice Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin was elected Vice-President.

The duo were elected on Tuesday by the newly constituted college of judges, marking the beginning of a new leadership era for the regional judicial institution following the conclusion of the tenure of the outgoing college.

Speaking after her election, Brumskine pledged to uphold 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 described her election as an opportunity to serve the court, the Economic Community of West African States and the people of the region, rather than a personal achievement.

She also stressed the importance of institutional continuity, noting that 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.

The new president further pledged to improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of the court’s judgments, promote compliance with its decisions and maintain constructive cooperation with other ECOWAS institutions without compromising judicial independence.

She also promised to promote professionalism, accountability, staff welfare, capacity building and operational efficiency within the institution.

Brumskine said the new leadership would establish its strategic priorities after consultations and a careful assessment of the court’s operations.

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, in accordance with the December 2025 Supplementary Act relating to the Community Court of Justice.

The law stipulates that candidates for appointment to the court must have at least 20 years of professional experience.