Justice Charlyne Brumskine of Liberia has emerged as the new President of the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), pledging to strengthen the rule of law, protect human rights and ensure speedy administration of justice across the region.
Brumskine, who was elected on Tuesday by the court’s new college of judges, succeeds the outgoing leadership alongside Justice Désiré Henri Aihou of Benin, who emerged as Vice-President.
The new leadership is expected to build on the achievements of previous administrations while addressing institutional challenges and strengthening public confidence in the regional judicial institution.
Speaking after her election, Brumskine said she accepted the responsibility with a clear understanding of the court’s mandate to interpret and apply community law and protect the rights of citizens across member states.
“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 election as an opportunity to serve the court, ECOWAS and the people of West Africa, rather than a personal achievement.
She stressed that the incoming leadership would prioritise institutional continuity, noting that the court’s progress had been built on the contributions of successive judges, judicial officers, management and staff.
According to her, the new administration would not discard existing achievements but consolidate them while responding to emerging challenges.
“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,” she said.
Brumskine disclosed that the new leadership would study handover notes, the court’s state-of-affairs report and relevant legal and administrative documents to ensure a smooth transition and continuity in the institution’s operations.
She also pledged to improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of the court’s judgments while strengthening compliance with its decisions.
The president said the court would maintain constructive relations with other ECOWAS institutions without compromising its judicial independence.
On internal administration, she promised to promote professionalism, accountability, capacity building, staff welfare and operational efficiency.
Brumskine said the administration would set out its strategic priorities after consultations and a thorough 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 added.
She urged members of the incoming college to work collectively, emphasising that mutual respect, judicial excellence and shared responsibility would be critical to the successful discharge of their duties.
Brumskine reaffirmed the court’s commitment to justice, fairness and the rule of law, noting that while leadership tenures were temporary, the institution’s responsibilities remained enduring.
The new leadership follows the swearing-in of five judges on October 7, 2026, in Abuja by Senegalese President Bassirou Faye, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The judges, appointed for a four-year, non-renewable tenure, are Aihou of Benin, Awa Bah of The Gambia, Brumskine of Liberia, Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu of Nigeria and Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo.
Their appointments were approved at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority, held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026, in line with the December 2025 Supplementary Act relating to the Community Court of Justice.
The law requires candidates for appointment to the court to possess at least 20 years of professional experience.
