ECOWAS Court to Hold Bilateral Meeting in Sierra Leone to Strengthen Enforcement of Its Judgments

From 9 to 13 February 2026, the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will meet bilaterally with Sierra Leone’s Competent National Authority (CNA) and other key stakeholders to review and strengthen the enforcement of its judgments in the country. The gathering is part of a series of events commemorating ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary, and it aims to foster closer collaboration between the regional Court and national institutions.
The week-long engagement, according to the Court, is intended to create a structured framework for collaboration, allow for the exchange of best practices, and address obstacles to the full and timely enforcement of ECOWAS Court decisions. According to organisers, the meetings will foster a shared understanding of enforcement mechanisms and aid in the harmonisation of procedures across member states.
The programme will begin with a special forum that will assess the current state of ECOWAS Court judgment enforcement in Sierra Leone, followed by an overview of the Court’s enforcement mechanisms. Presentations will provide a government perspective on the enforcement landscape, and a bilateral session will bring together civil society organisations to ensure inclusive stakeholder input. The discussions will focus on practical strategies to increase compliance rates, build national capacity for effective enforcement, identify systemic barriers, and outline next steps for long-term engagement.
A primary goal is to foster in-depth dialogue between the Court and CNAs in order to promote uniform enforcement practices, clarify institutional responsibilities, and foster a long-term collaborative network between the Court and national authorities. Discussions are expected to focus on concrete measures to improve enforcement outcomes, deepen mutual understanding of existing constraints, and explore capacity-building initiatives that could help national bodies implement ECOWAS rulings.
Courtesy visits to senior government and judicial officials will also be planned. The Court delegation will meet with the Ministers of Planning and Development, Foreign Affairs, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, and the Speaker of Parliament. The delegation will also pay visits to the chairperson of Sierra Leone’s Human Rights Commission and the president of the Sierra Leone Bar Association.
Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves will lead the ECOWAS Court delegation, which will also include the Vice President, Hon. Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, as well as directors and other Court staff. The meetings aim to encourage constructive engagement among regional and national actors in Sierra Leone to improve compliance with ECOWAS Court judgments.