The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to hold a high-level bilateral meeting in the Republic of Guinea from March 2 to 4, 2026, in a bid to strengthen the enforcement of its rulings across Member States.
The three-day engagement, organised as part of ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary celebrations, will bring together the Court’s delegation, Guinea’s Competent National Authority (CNA), senior government officials, and civil society representatives to address ongoing challenges in implementing the Court’s decisions.
Central to the discussions is the pressing need to bridge the gap between judicial pronouncements and their execution at the national level.
Despite landmark judgments delivered by the Court on human rights, governance, and community law, compliance remained inconsistent in some jurisdictions.
The dialogue in Guinea is designed to foster a more coordinated, transparent, and effective enforcement framework.
Participants are expected to review compliance rates, identify procedural bottlenecks, and share best practices aimed at harmonising enforcement mechanisms across the sub-region.
The programme would feature a dedicated forum assessing the current status of the enforcement of the Court’s judgments in Guinea, alongside presentations on both the Court’s enforcement processes and the country’s national legal framework.
Civil society organisations would also engage directly with the Court in a bilateral dialogue intended to promote accountability and inclusive participation.
During the visit, the Court’s delegation would hold courtesy calls with key government officials, including the Minister in charge of ECOWAS Affairs, the Ministers of Justice and Finance, the President of the Supreme Court, and the Speaker of Parliament.
Meetings are also scheduled with the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission and the President of the Bar Association.
The delegation would be led by the President of the Court, Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, and will include Vice-President Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara, along with directors and other officials.
Similar bilateral engagements have previously been conducted in Sierra Leone and Nigeria, reflecting the Court’s broader strategy to institutionalise cooperation and reinforce the authority of its judgments throughout West Africa.
As ECOWAS marks five decades of regional integration, the Guinea meeting underscores renewed determination to ensure that the decisions of its judicial arm are not only pronounced but fully implemented, reinforcing the rule of law and fostering confidence in regional justice systems.
