GistZone — The ECOWAS Court of Justice has adopted recommendations to establish an Appeal Division as part of efforts to strengthen justice delivery across West Africa.

The recommendation was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Court’s 2026 International Conference in Dakar, Senegal, on Friday.

The proposed Appeal Division would be created through institutional reforms requiring amendments to the ECOWAS Revised Treaty and other relevant legal instruments.

The reforms would define issues including the court’s appellate jurisdiction, appealable decisions, grounds and time limits for appeals, as well as the qualifications of appellate judges.

The conference said an appellate structure could help correct judicial errors, strengthen fair-hearing guarantees and promote consistency in the Court’s decisions.

However, the proposed reform would require treaty amendments, political consensus and adequate financial resources.

The Court also identified the low rate of compliance with its judgments as one of its biggest challenges. Participants linked the problem to limited enforcement powers and difficulties in implementing ECOWAS decisions at the national level.

A technical committee was also urged to examine whether the proposed Appeal Division should sit periodically instead of operating permanently, partly because of the financial implications.

Description: The ECOWAS Court has adopted plans to create an Appeal Division as part of reforms aimed at strengthening justice delivery across West Africa.

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