African Court delegation visits ECOWAS Court, strengthen cooperation

A delegation from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights led by the Head of its Legal Division, Dr Horace Segnonna on a working visit to the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS from April 22 to 26, 2024. 

Receiving the delegation from the African Court in his cabinet on Monday, April 22, Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara, Vice President of ECOWAS Court said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would strengthen cooperation and improve the jurisprudence of both Courts. 

Justice Ouattara, who represented the president of the Court, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, added that exchange visits are an important opportunity for the ECOWAS Court to strengthen its international cooperation for best practice and that the outcome document would also be useful for future reference. 

In his welcome statement, Dr Yaouza Ouro-Sama, Chief Registrar of the ECOWAS Court highlighted the importance of the collaboration and knowledge sharing between both institutions in advancing justice delivery in the ECOWAS subregion and the continent of Africa.  

On the first day of the visit, the delegation from the African Court paid a courtesy visit to other judges of the ECOWAS Court, witnessed a hybrid court session and took a tour of the ECOWAS Court building. 

Participants from the ECOWAS Court include Dr Athanase Atannon, Deputy Chief Registrar; Mr Aboubakar Diakite, Registrar, Case Management, and other registrars, heads of units and legal officers of the Court.  

A similar working visit was paid by a delegation of the ECOWAS Court to the African Court in Arusha, Tanzania in June 2023 during which both institutions renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).