Liberian Justice Charlyne M. Brumskine has been elected President of the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with Justice Désire Henri Aihou of Benin emerging as Vice-President.
The two were elected on October 13, 2026, by the newly constituted college of judges, ushering in a new leadership for the regional judicial institution following the expiration of the tenure of the outgoing judges.
The new leadership will direct the Court’s judicial and institutional affairs for two years within their four-year, non-renewable mandates, which end in 2030.
The other members of the Court are Justice Awa Bah of The Gambia, Justice Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu of Nigeria and Justice Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo.
Their election followed the swearing-in of the five newly appointed judges on October 6, 2026, at a ceremony presided over by the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The leadership transition comes as the Court advances the implementation of its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, known as Justice 2030.
The plan seeks to strengthen access to justice, improve judicial efficiency, enhance institutional effectiveness, increase the Court’s visibility and deepen public confidence in regional justice.
As President, Brumskine will provide overall judicial leadership and represent the Court in its institutional and external engagements. Aihou, as Vice-President, will assist her in discharging the responsibilities of the office and perform other duties in line with the Court’s governing framework.
In her inaugural address, Brumskine described her election as an opportunity to serve the Court, the ECOWAS Community and the people of West Africa with commitment and a strong sense of responsibility.
“I am sincerely grateful to my esteemed colleagues for the confidence they have each reposed on me. 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 outgoing President of the Court, Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, said the handover ceremony marked the conclusion of the tenure of the five outgoing judges and the transfer of responsibilities to their successors.
He described the transition as significant because it demonstrated the principle of institutional continuity beyond the individuals appointed to serve.
On behalf of the outgoing judges, Gonçalves wished the new leadership a successful tenure as it assumes responsibility for the Court’s judicial and institutional affairs.
