Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – Ministers of Justice from across West Africa have concluded a two-day ministerial meeting in Banjul, The Gambia, where they validated two critical legal instruments for the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice. The instruments—the Draft Harmonised Protocol and the Draft Arbitration Rules—are expected to reinforce the Court’s role in safeguarding human rights, promoting regional integration, and providing credible mechanisms for dispute resolution.
The meeting, held from August 29 to 30, 2025, followed four days of technical sessions by regional experts. It was convened by the ECOWAS Commission and hosted by the Government of The Gambia.
Welcoming delegates on behalf of President Adama Barrow, Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow described the meeting as a “historic milestone” in strengthening the Court’s mandate.
He noted that the introduction of arbitration rules would allow the Court to resolve commercial disputes, thereby bolstering investor confidence and advancing the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Alpha Sesay, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Sierra Leone and Chair of the ECOWAS Ministers of Justice, emphasized the Court’s significance as “a beacon of justice and a symbol of our collective commitment to regional integration and the rule of law.”
He added that the work undertaken in Banjul would expand access to justice and reaffirm the region’s dedication to protecting human rights and resolving disputes through arbitration.
Gambia’s Attorney General and Justice Minister, Dawda A. Jallow, in his keynote address, highlighted the importance of equipping the Court with tools comparable to international arbitration standards. He stressed that the Community Court has the potential to become a continental hub for arbitration, addressing both human rights and economic disputes.
Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, said the Harmonised Protocol incorporates “lessons learned over more than two decades of judicial practice” and ensures alignment with the Revised ECOWAS Treaty and decisions of regional leaders.
He underscored that the instruments would reinforce the Court’s capacity to deliver justice while safeguarding principles of equity, rule of law, and human rights.
Miatta Lily French, ECOWAS Resident Representative to The Gambia, commended the Court’s leadership for streamlining its operations to make them more effective and less cumbersome.
The Harmonized Protocol consolidates years of fragmented amendments into a single text defining the Court’s composition, jurisdiction, procedures, and enforcement mechanisms, providing clarity and legal certainty for member states and citizens.
The new Arbitration Rules establish a regional framework for resolving commercial and investment disputes.
The validated instruments will now be submitted to the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for adoption. Once in force, they are expected to enhance the Court’s effectiveness in protecting rights, promoting the rule of law, and deepening economic and political integration across West Africa.
