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Citation
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Judgment date
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| December 2025 |
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Provisional measures denied; Court has jurisdiction under Articles 9(1)(f) and (g); admissible except African Charter claims.
Administrative law — Provisional measures: prima facie case, urgency, irreparable harm; Expedited procedure — exceptional and requires irreparable prejudice; Jurisdiction — Article 9(1)(f) and (g) applicable to disputes between Community and officials and actions for damages; Admissibility — exhaustion of internal remedies inapplicable where remedies unavailable to statutory Commissioners; African Charter claims inadmissible against ECOWAS institutions.
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10 December 2025 |
| November 2025 |
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Requirement that military personnel resign before ECOWAS permanent conversion lawful; applicant's salary suspension for assuming ministerial office justified.
Public international/Employment law – ECOWAS public service – jurisdiction under Article 9(1)(f) – admissibility and exhaustion of internal remedies when procedures non-operational – conversion of contract staff to permanent status – military status and exclusive loyalty – non-binding nature of Council recommendations – salary suspension for constructive abandonment and breach of exclusivity.
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19 November 2025 |
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Whether a revision is admissible absent newly discovered decisive facts unknown at the time of the judgment.
Revision of judgment – Article 25 Protocol and Articles 92–93 Rules – admissibility requires discovery of new decisive facts unknown to Court and party – three‑month rule – not an appellate route to challenge evidential assessment or merits (MOU dispute) – jurisdiction affirmed but application inadmissible.
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19 November 2025 |
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The respondent's failure to reconstitute its NHRC governing council violated the applicant's right to a timely fair hearing.
Human rights — Right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time (Article 7(1)(d), African Charter) — Applicability to quasi-judicial bodies (NHRC) — State responsibility for institutional inaction — Jurisdiction and admissibility of human-rights applications — Reparations: general damages and orders to ensure determination.
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17 November 2025 |
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Applicants' human‑rights claims dismissed: alleged violations predate ECOWAS Court's temporal jurisdiction.
Human rights jurisdiction — temporal jurisdiction — non‑retroactivity of treaties — continuing violations doctrine — Articles on State Responsibility (Article 14) — ECOWAS Court mandate from 19 January 2005.
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10 November 2025 |
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Whether prolonged detention under a mandatory death sentence and lack of medical care violate rights to freedom from torture and health.
Human rights — Death penalty — Mandatory death sentence and method (hanging) — prolonged detention on death row as torture/cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment — Right to health of prisoners — ECOWAS Court jurisdiction and reparations (commutation/release, medical care, compensation).
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10 November 2025 |
| July 2025 |
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Revision application dismissed as inadmissible: alleged "new facts" were pre‑existing legal issues; costs awarded to respondent.
Revision of judgment; Article 27 Protocol – requirements for revision (new, decisive, unknown fact, not due to negligence); admissibility under Article 94 Rules; jurisdiction to hear revision applications; res judicata and preclusion of issues previously decided.
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8 July 2025 |
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State breached obligations by failing to criminalize FGM and by not investigating and remedying an FGM victim's harm.
Human rights — Female genital mutilation (FGM) — State obligation under Maputo Protocol Article 5 and ACRWC Article 21 to criminalize and sanction FGM — State duty to investigate and provide effective remedies — Right to security of person — Inhuman or degrading treatment; torture not established — Reparations and legislative relief.
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8 July 2025 |
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Court finds State liable for cruel, inhuman treatment and violation of child's physical integrity and health; awards CFA 50,000,000.
Human-rights jurisdiction — admissibility without exhaustion of local remedies; standing of a parent for minor child; distinction between torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; State liability for violations of physical integrity and right to health; reparations and assessment of damages.
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7 July 2025 |
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Default judgment denied relief where applicants failed to prove State responsibility for alleged militia abuses.
ECOWAS Court jurisdiction; admissibility of NGOs—legal personality; default judgment procedure; burden of proof in human-rights claims; insufficient evidence of State responsibility for militias; rights considered: physical integrity, security, freedom of movement, assembly.
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7 July 2025 |
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Alleged failure to promote a magistrate was not established as discrimination; promotion was discretionary and claimant lacked evidence.
Human rights — Equality before the law — Promotion of magistrates — Discretionary executive appointments — Burden of proof and evidentiary requirements for discrimination claims.
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2 July 2025 |
| May 2025 |
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Court found arbitrary detention of named applicants, dismissed plebiscite and self-determination claims, awarded limited compensation.
Human rights jurisdiction – limits on review of historical plebiscites and trusteeships; review of domestic laws only in context of alleged continuing human-rights violations; standing of NGOs requires proof of legal personality; arbitrary detention – failure to bring detainees before court within prescribed time; reparations – modest compensation and conditional release/prosecution.
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16 May 2025 |
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Prosecutorial disclosures and procedural delays breached the applicant's presumption of innocence, timely-trial rights and caused arbitrary detention.
Human rights — presumption of innocence — prosecutorial public statements — right to be tried within reasonable time — statutory review deadlines (Art. 294, 300 CCP) — arbitrary detention — reparation and systemic measures — ECOWAS Court jurisdiction.
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16 May 2025 |
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The ECOWAS Court lacks jurisdiction to hear contractual claims by a private party against a Member State.
Jurisdiction — ECOWAS Court — limits of Article 9 Supplementary Protocol — no jurisdiction over contractual disputes between Member States and third parties — admissible preliminary objection of lack of jurisdiction — costs awarded to respondent.
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15 May 2025 |
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Prolonged pretrial detention violated rights to liberty, movement, fair trial and amounted to inhuman treatment; release and compensation ordered.
Human rights — Jurisdiction of ECOWAS Community Court — Admissibility — Limitation period inapplicable to human rights claims — Arbitrary arrest and prolonged pretrial detention — Rights to liberty, freedom of movement, fair trial within reasonable time — Cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment — Reparations: release and compensation.
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15 May 2025 |
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Unlawful internet and social media shutdowns violated applicants' rights to freedom of expression, information and to work.
Human rights — internet and social media shutdowns — legality, necessity and proportionality — freedom of expression and access to information (Art 19 ICCPR; Art 9 African Charter) — standing of juristic persons for expression claims — right to work (Art 6 ICESCR; Art 15 African Charter) — reparations — ECOWAS/UEMOA regulatory instruments not human-rights instruments for jurisdictional purposes.
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14 May 2025 |
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Court dismissed abstract challenge to alleged vagrancy laws for lack of identifiable victims and therefore no jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction – Article 9(4) ECOWAS Court Protocol – requirement of real and identifiable victims – no jurisdiction for abstract review of domestic vagrancy laws absent concrete instances of rights violations.
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14 May 2025 |
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Whether internal remedies were exhausted and whether recruitment breached fairness and geographic distribution rules.
Administrative law — ECOWAS staff disputes — Jurisdiction under Article 9(1)(f) — Admissibility and exhaustion of internal remedies — Recruitment and appointment — Primary criterion of technical efficiency; geographical distribution ancillary — Burden of proof in discrimination claims — Protection against denigration under Staff Regulations.
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13 May 2025 |
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Respondent held liable for arbitrary arrest and property violation; dignity/torture claim unproven; USD 20,000 awarded.
Human rights — ECOWAS Court jurisdiction — Default judgment under Rule 90 — Arbitrary arrest and detention (Article 6 ACHPR) — Right to property seizure (Article 14 ACHPR) — Dignity/torture claim unproven — Reparation and costs.
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13 May 2025 |
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Court found jurisdiction but dismissed the claim because applicants failed to prove locus standi or legal personality.
Human rights — jurisdiction under Article 9(4) of the Protocol — admissibility under Article 10(d) — locus standi — direct and indirect victims — proof of relationship — legal personality of an Estate — failure to produce birth certificate or probate/Letters of Administration — dismissal for inadmissibility.
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13 May 2025 |
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Court dismissed human-rights claim of intellectual-property theft, finding IP and criminal aspects outside its competence.
Human rights — Right to property (Article 14 ACHPR) — Intellectual property rights and registration — Distinction between deprivation/control (human-rights breach) and allegations of theft/passing-off (criminal/domestic IP matters) — ICCPR Article 26 (equality) — Jurisdictional limits: Berne Convention and WIPO Copyright Treaty outside ECOWAS Court competence — Admissibility — Costs: parties bear own costs.
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12 May 2025 |
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Court finds respondent unlawfully prevented applicant leaving Senegal, violating freedom of movement, and awards compensation.
Human rights — Freedom of movement — Article 12(2) African Charter — Evidence and burden of proof — Arbitrary administrative restrictions — Reparations and costs.
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9 May 2025 |
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Applicant failed to prove alleged discrimination under Article 2; Court had jurisdiction but dismissed the claim for lack of evidence.
Human rights — Non-discrimination — Article 2 African Charter — burden of proof — necessity to identify and prove third‑party interactions — jurisdiction of ECOWAS Court — institutions versus Member States — admissibility of human‑rights application.
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8 May 2025 |
| April 2025 |
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Whether successive prosecutions violated the applicant's non bis in idem and right of defence; court found no violation.
Human rights — Fair trial — Non bis in idem (res judicata) — Distinct facts and successive prosecutions — Right of defence — Accused's presence required; counsel cannot always plead in absence — Damages — Burden to prove actual loss — Counterclaim for abusive proceedings dismissed.
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12 April 2025 |
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Court admits only freedom of expression claims; strikes down vague blasphemy laws and orders repeal/amendment as incompatible with international law.
Human rights – Jurisdiction – actio popularis – admissibility of freedom of expression claims; Freedom of expression – limits must be lawful, legitimate and necessary – vagueness defeats legality; Blasphemy laws – death penalty disproportionate; State responsibility for laws of federating units.
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9 April 2025 |
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The respondent violated the applicant's right against inhuman treatment and to a timely investigation; damages and investigations ordered.
Human rights jurisdiction – Admissibility – Victim status; Evidence and burden of proof – Medical certificate and contemporaneous press reports; Prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 5 African Charter); Right to be tried/rights to a hearing within reasonable time (Article 7 African Charter) – undue delay of 14+ years; State responsibility for acts of law enforcement agents; Remedies – damages, investigation and compliance reporting; Costs ordered against State.
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9 April 2025 |
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Applicant failed to prove Cabo Verde denied access to essential medicine; Court found no violation of the right to health.
Human rights — Right to health — Access to essential medicines — State obligations to respect, protect and fulfill health rights — Burden of proof — Jurisdiction and admissibility of individual applications under ECOWAS Court jurisdiction.
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7 April 2025 |
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Court found no proven violation of reproductive rights due to insufficient evidence and limited jurisdiction to review domestic abortion laws in abstract.
Jurisdiction and admissibility — preliminary objection procedure — limits on abstract review of domestic laws — right to health and reproductive rights under African Charter and Maputo Protocol — requirement of minimum evidentiary showing for allegations of rape, pregnancy causation and denial of health services — unsuccessful claim for reparations.
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4 April 2025 |
| March 2025 |
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State liable for failing to investigate sexual violence; awarded compensation and ordered preventive and victim-support measures.
Human rights — ECOWAS Court jurisdiction and admissibility — State due diligence to investigate sexual violence — Preservation of medical and police evidence — Right to effective remedy — Sexual violence as inhuman/cruel treatment — Reparations and victim support obligations.
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20 March 2025 |
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Respondent liable for arbitrary detention, degrading treatment, media-driven breach of presumption of innocence; investigation and CFA 30,000,000 awarded.
Human rights — Jurisdiction and admissibility of default judgment — Arbitrary arrest and detention — Inhuman and degrading treatment in custody — Presumption of innocence violated by public media exposure — Right to privacy, honour and reputation — Reparations and costs.
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17 March 2025 |
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Claims of statutory discrimination over land were declared moot after 2022 land laws repealed the impugned statute; damages denied.
Human rights — land rights — alleged statutory discrimination against an ethnic community — Provinces Land Act (Cap.122) — National Land Commission Act 2022 and Customary Land Rights Act 2022 repeal and reform — admissibility and default judgment — reparations refused for lack of evidential proof.
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17 March 2025 |
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Court: failure to create a sixth state does not, by itself, violate equality or development rights; foreign NGO struck off.
Human rights — actio popularis — standing of NGOs in public interest actions — limits of Court’s remit over internal territorial organization — Article 19 (peoples’ equality), Article 22 (right to development) African Charter; Article 26 ICCPR — margin of appreciation in creating subnational units.
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17 March 2025 |
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Applicants’ arrests and forcible home entries violated privacy, liberty, assembly, expression and fair‑trial rights; damages awarded.
Human rights – unlawful entry into private homes; arbitrary arrest and detention; infringement of freedom of assembly, demonstration and expression; violation of right to counsel and fair trial; remedies and damages (5,000,000 CFA per applicant); costs awarded against State.
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17 March 2025 |
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ECOWAS Court finds fair‑trial violations (unreasonable delay and denial of defence), awards modest damages and orders costs against the State.
Human rights — jurisdiction — admissibility — expedited procedure — fair trial: presumption of innocence; right to be tried within reasonable time; right of defence (access to counsel and file) — arbitrary detention — torture and inhuman or degrading treatment — compensation and costs.
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14 March 2025 |
| February 2025 |
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Applicants lacked standing to sue on behalf of the deceased absent proof of relationship or legal mandate.
Human rights jurisdiction — continuing state obligations — temporal jurisdiction; admissibility — victim status/standing under Article 10(d); not an invitation to exercise appellate jurisdiction over domestic courts; Article 9(3) limitation inapplicable to human rights cases.
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28 February 2025 |
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Failure to appeal to the Council of Ministers rendered the applicant's claim inadmissible.
ECOWAS Court jurisdiction — disputes between Community and officials; admissibility — mandatory exhaustion of internal remedies; Article 73(a) Staff Regulations — appeal to Council of Ministers required despite "may"; retired staff count as officials for Court access; dismissal for failure to exhaust remedies.
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28 February 2025 |
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State agents' use of lethal force and the State's inadequate investigation violated the victim's rights to life and fair hearing.
Human rights — Right to life (Article 4 African Charter) — State responsibility for lethal actions of security forces — Duty to conduct prompt, effective investigation and provide remedies — Right to fair hearing (Article 7) — Proof of victim status and admissibility.
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28 February 2025 |
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An application framed as a human-rights claim cannot compel the ECOWAS Court to review or set aside national court decisions.
ECOWAS Court jurisdiction – human rights – right to property – limits of jurisdiction – application as disguised appeal against national court decisions – inadmissibility for lack of competence – costs awarded to respondent.
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14 February 2025 |
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Representative applicant’s failure to produce mandate rendered EndSARS-related human-rights application inadmissible despite Court’s jurisdiction.
Human rights — Jurisdiction to hear alleged violations of freedom of expression and assembly; Admissibility — victim status and standing; Representative actions — requirement of mandate/authorization for actions on behalf of determinable victims; Failure to produce authorization renders representative application inadmissible.
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14 February 2025 |
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Court found jurisdiction but dismissed NGO’s public interest suit for inadmissibility due to failure to identify envisagable victims.
Human rights — jurisdiction under Supplementary Protocol Article 9(4) — admissibility of public interest litigation — NGO locus standi — actio popularis — requirement to envisage victim class — Dasin Hausa Dam flooding allegations.
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14 February 2025 |
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Court finds ECOWAS sanctions lawful, rejects damages claim and dismisses application as unfounded.
Community law – jurisdiction under Art.9(1)(g) for damages claims against Community institutions; admissibility and default judgment; sanctions and measures under Art.77(3) Revised Treaty and Democracy and Good Governance Protocol; legality vs arbitrariness of ECOWAS measures; no liability for lawful acts of the Community; limits of Art.9(4) human-rights jurisdiction.
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14 February 2025 |
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Court found jurisdiction and admissibility but dismissed claims for lack of evidence linking state agents to violations.
Human rights — Court jurisdiction over alleged violations in Member States; admissibility; limits on adjudicating purely national constitutional claims; state responsibility requires attribution of acts to the State; insufficient evidence dismisses claims for violations of ACHPR Articles 3, 6, 12(1), 14 and 21.
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13 February 2025 |
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13 February 2025 |
| January 2025 |
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Court found jurisdiction but dismissed application as inadmissible for lack of proper locus standi and mandate.
Human rights jurisdiction — ECOWAS Court jurisdiction over alleged rights violations from domestic law application; admissibility — Article 10(d) Supplementary Protocol; actio popularis; corporate standing for freedom of expression claims; representative actions require mandate; broadcasting regulation v. freedom of expression.
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27 January 2025 |
