The ECOWAS Court of Justice (CCJ) and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) have affirmed their commitment to bolstering legal precedence on the continent through the implementation of regular peer review mechanisms.
This affirmation emerged during a peer review session held between officials of both judicial institutions, as a delegation from the AfCHPR headquarters in Tanzania visited the CCJ headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, the Chief Registrar of the CCJ, extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation on behalf of Justice Edward Asante, the President of the court. He underscored the significance of the meeting as an opportunity for knowledge exchange and collaboration between the two entities.
Ouro-Sama recalled the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June 2023 during a previous visit by a CCJ delegation to the AfCHPR headquarters. This MoU established a Joint Committee aimed at institutionalizing consultation and fostering effective cooperation. He urged the AfCHPR to expedite the implementation of this agreement and proposed regular dialogue in accordance with the MoU’s provision for periodic discussions.
He stated, “As keen observers of African jurisdictions, it is evident that a robust relationship exists between the African Court of Justice and the Community Court of Justice, marked by a firmly established dialogue between both parties. The trend towards internationalizing justice underscores the pivotal role of African courts as vanguard organizations.”
Ouro-Sama highlighted the importance of the peer review meeting, which encompassed discussions on jurisprudential developments in both jurisdictions, as well as the roles of judicial actors and legal aid. Other topics included capacity building, research, library and documentation management, legal procedures, human resource management, and procurement.
He emphasized that the diverse expertise among participants would facilitate the exchange of ideas for the mutual benefit of their respective jurisdictions.
In response, Dr. Segnonna Horace, the leader of the AfCHPR delegation, commended the strong relationship between the CCJ and AfCHPR. He emphasized the global affirmation of the dialogue among judges and highlighted AfCHPR’s position as a leading advocate for justice at the multilateral level.
Horace noted that the CCJ’s official delegation in June 2023 exemplified the commitment of both institutions to cooperation, further solidifying dialogue among judges. He emphasized that one of the primary objectives of the peer review meeting was to reach resolutions and provide reports to the Joint Committee for necessary action.
