Sierra Leone Hosts ECOWAS Court Bilateral Talks on Enforcement of Judgments
By Sorie Sesay
Sierra Leone has hosted a high-level bilateral meeting between the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice to address the enforcement of judgments delivered by the regional court.
The meeting took place on February 10, 2026, at the Mama Point Hotel Lagoonda in Aberdeen, Freetown. It was led by the President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, as part of activities marking the 50th Anniversary of ECOWAS. The anniversary engagements include consultations with national authorities across member states to review compliance with the Court’s decisions.
In his welcome address, the Chief Registrar of the ECOWAS Court, Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Sierra Leone for hosting the delegation. He emphasized that justice does not end with the delivery of a judgment but is fully realized only when decisions are properly enforced and their outcomes benefit citizens.
Dr. Ouro-Sama described the ECOWAS Court as the guardian of Community law and a key institution for protecting human rights and strengthening the rule of law in West Africa. He noted that the Court has built a strong reputation, particularly in human rights jurisprudence, enhancing ECOWAS’ credibility regionally and internationally.
He stressed that enforcement of judgments is not optional but a legal obligation under the ECOWAS Treaty and a political and moral commitment of member states. According to him, the bilateral meeting provided an opportunity to openly examine legal and practical challenges affecting enforcement and to explore workable solutions.
Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., welcomed the ECOWAS delegation and described the engagement as a demonstration of shared regional commitment to justice and rule of law. He reaffirmed that judgments of the ECOWAS Court are final and binding on member states under the ECOWAS Treaty and its supplementary protocols.
The Attorney General acknowledged that member states, including Sierra Leone, must improve compliance with Court decisions. He noted that several ECOWAS judgments involving Sierra Leone have contributed to the development of human rights standards that guide national institutions across West Africa. He also highlighted progress made by some member states in complying with Court orders, including the payment of monetary awards.
In his opening remarks, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves said the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS provides an opportunity not only to reflect on achievements since its establishment in 1975 but also to strengthen cooperation in regional integration, peace, human rights, and justice.
He explained that the objectives of the Freetown meeting were to foster dialogue between the Court and national authorities, assess the status of enforcement of judgments concerning Sierra Leone, identify challenges, and promote collaboration and transparency in strengthening national enforcement mechanisms.
Providing an overview of cases involving Sierra Leone, Justice Gonçalves disclosed that since the Court’s establishment, 18 judgments have been delivered in cases concerning the country. Of these, only one judgment has been fully enforced, six cases were dismissed, and eleven judgments remain unenforced. The cases relate to human rights, constitutional governance, and social justice.
While describing the enforcement of one judgment as a positive step, he noted that the eleven outstanding decisions underscore the urgent need for stronger commitment and cooperation. He concluded that effective enforcement of ECOWAS Court judgments is essential to upholding justice, reinforcing the rule of law, and advancing regional integration for the benefit of citizens across West Africa.
