# ECOWAS Court of Justice judicial enforcement efforts

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ecowas-court-of-justice-judicial-enforcement-efforts
> Updated: 2026-09-23T06:20:03.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 3.

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has initiated efforts to address challenges regarding its mandate and the enforcement of its rulings within West Africa.

In Abuja, the Court launched a three-day training program for journalists to improve media accuracy concerning judicial processes. Justice Sengu Koroma noted that public understanding is limited by reporting gaps, and Justice Ricardo Gonçalves stated that compliance levels with Court decisions are “below expectation.”

Following this, the Court convened an international conference in Dakar, Senegal, focused on the systemic gap between legal rulings and their implementation by member states. Because the Court lacks a direct enforcement agency, the conference sought to establish protocols to help national judiciaries domesticate regional rulings. The event also addressed broader themes including human rights, artificial intelligence, and environmental justice.

During its 25th anniversary Annual International Conference in Dakar in September 2026, the Court addressed these ongoing enforcement issues amidst a period of significant institutional transition. This transition follows the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the regional bloc. Court President Justice Ricardo Gonçalves and ECOWAS Commission President Birame Diop emphasized that the lack of compliance with judicial rulings poses a threat to the credibility of the regional legal order and the protection of human rights.

At the 2026 conference, legal experts proposed specific strategies to bridge the enforcement gap. Dr. Tony Anene-Maidoh, former Chief Registrar, suggested that ECOWAS political institutions, such as the Authority of Heads of State, must take a more active role in monitoring compliance through diplomatic engagement. Additionally, Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi advocated for reforms to increase accessibility, proposing the adoption of “epistolary jurisdiction” to allow letters or emails to trigger human rights reviews for citizens like traders and farmers.

## Claims

- Diplomatic engagement with Member States is essential for the enforcement of ECOWAS Court judgments. (single source)
- The level of compliance with ECOWAS Court judgments by member states is below expectations. (single source)
- The Court is urging journalists to use media platforms to hold member states accountable for implementing court decisions. (single source)
- The ECOWAS Court should implement reforms to make regional justice more accessible to ordinary citizens. (single source)
- Under Article 24 of the Court’s Supplementary Protocol, enforcement relies on member states following domestic civil procedure rules. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-23: ECOWAS Court seeks improved enforcement and accessibility for regional justice

Leaders at the ECOWAS Court of Justice conference in Senegal are calling for increased diplomatic engagement, media involvement, and judicial reforms to improve judgment enforcement in West Africa.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ecowas-court-seeks-improved-enforcement-and-accessibility-for-regional-justice

### 2026-09-20: ECOWAS Court of Justice addresses enforcement and integration challenges

The ECOWAS Court of Justice is holding a high-level conference in Dakar to address critical challenges regarding judgment enforcement, human rights protection, and regional integration in West Africa.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ecowas-court-convenes-conference-to-address-judgment-enforcement

### 2026-09-16: ECOWAS Court holds training for journalists in Abuja

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has commenced a three-day training in Abuja to improve judicial reporting and urge journalists to pressure member states to comply with the Court’s judgments.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ecowas-court-holds-training-for-journalists-in-abuja

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Cite as: ECOWAS Court of Justice judicial enforcement efforts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ecowas-court-of-justice-judicial-enforcement-efforts