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Citation
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Judgment date
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| December 2025 |
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Court denied interim relief, found jurisdiction under Articles 9(1)(f) and (g), and declared African Charter claims inadmissible against the Commission.
Administrative law; interim measures — urgency, irreparable harm, prima facie case; jurisdiction — Articles 9(1)(f) and 9(1)(g) (employment and damages claims); inadmissibility of African Charter claims against ECOWAS institutions; exhaustion of internal remedies — unavailable/ineffective where President is author and Council of Ministers holds competence.
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10 December 2025 |
| November 2025 |
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Court upholds ECOWAS requirement that military officers resign before permanent conversion and dismisses salary claims for lack of proof.
Administrative law – ECOWAS staff disputes – Jurisdiction and admissibility – exhaustion of internal remedies where internal procedure is non‑operational – Conversion of contract staff to permanent status – Requirement for military personnel to resign prior national service – Institutional independence and exclusive loyalty – Lawfulness of salary suspension for assumed political office without authorization.
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19 November 2025 |
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Applicant’s revision dismissed as inadmissible for failing to show new decisive facts; Court retains jurisdiction.
Revision of judgment – admissibility – discovery of new decisive facts – Article 25 Protocol and Article 92 Rules – not an appellate review – jurisdiction retained – costs each party bears own costs.
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19 November 2025 |
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State's prolonged failure to reconstitute a human-rights body violated the applicant's right to a timely fair hearing.
Human rights — Right to fair hearing within a reasonable time (Article 7(1)(d) African Charter) — Quasi-judicial bodies (NHRC) — State responsibility for institutional dysfunction (dissolution of NHRC Governing Council) — Reparations (declaration, compensation, order to conclude proceedings).
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17 November 2025 |
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Whether the ECOWAS Court had temporal jurisdiction over alleged human-rights violations occurring in the 1970s.
Temporal jurisdiction — non-retroactivity of treaties — ECOWAS Court human-rights mandate effective 19 January 2005 — continuing-violation doctrine inapplicable where wrongful act was completed — effects of past violations insufficient to render breach continuing.
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10 November 2025 |
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Prolonged detention under a mandatory death-by-hanging sentence and denial of adequate medical care violated Articles 5 and 16 of the African Charter.
Human rights – Death row – Mandatory death sentence and hanging – prolonged detention on death row as torture/cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 5 African Charter) – Right to health of prisoners (Article 16 African Charter) – Burden of proof on claims of trial in absentia – Reparations: commutation/release, medical care, compensation.
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10 November 2025 |
| July 2025 |
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Revision application dismissed as inadmissible because it raised previously decided legal issues, not a newly discovered decisive fact.
Revision of judgment – Article 27 Protocol (as amended) – requirements for revision: new fact, decisive nature, unknown to Court and applicant, not due to applicant's negligence – inadmissibility where grounds are previously raised legal issues; jurisdiction and standing of non-Community national; res judicata; abuse of process; costs awarded.
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8 July 2025 |
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State violated obligations by failing to criminalize FGM, investigate perpetrators, and protect the victim's rights.
Human rights — Female genital mutilation (FGM) — State obligation to criminalize under Maputo Protocol and African Children's Charter — Due diligence and State responsibility for private actors — Right to effective remedy and access to justice — Right to security of person — Inhuman or degrading treatment — Reparations (US$30,000).
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8 July 2025 |
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Applicant awarded compensation for cruel, inhuman treatment and violations of child's physical integrity and health; torture and best‑interests claims rejected.
ECOWAS Court jurisdiction; admissibility — exhaustion of local remedies not required; victim status and standing of parent for minor; distinction between torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; State liability for violation of physical integrity and right to health; award of compensation and costs.
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7 July 2025 |
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Applicants failed to prove state liability for alleged militia attacks; certain NGOs were inadmissible for lack of legal personality.
Jurisdiction of ECOWAS Court under A/SP.1/01/05; admissibility and legal personality of NGOs; default judgment procedure (Art.90 Rules); burden of proof in human-rights claims; State responsibility for militia violence; freedom of assembly, physical integrity and freedom of movement.
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7 July 2025 |
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Applicant failed to prove discriminatory denial of promotion; Court found promotions discretionary and dismissed the claim.
Human rights — Equality before the law — Alleged discriminatory denial of promotion to special judicial category — Promotion as executive discretion under domestic law — Burden and standard of proof for discrimination — Admissibility and jurisdiction — Costs awarded to successful party.
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2 July 2025 |
| May 2025 |
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Court finds arbitrary detention of named applicants, dismisses self-determination and plebiscite claims, awards limited compensation.
Public international law – jurisdiction of regional court – limits on review of historical/political acts (plebiscite); Human rights – arbitrary detention – compliance with constitutional time-limits and fair trial guarantees; Admissibility – legal personality for NGOs; Domestic law review – Court may assess compatibility of national laws with international obligations but cannot invalidate laws in abstracto; Remedies – modest compensation and orders to prosecute or release.
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16 May 2025 |
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The State violated the applicant's presumption of innocence, reasonable-time trial right and detained him arbitrarily.
Criminal procedure; presumption of innocence; prosecutorial public statements; right to be tried within reasonable time; statutory deadlines (Arts. 294, 300 CCP Guinea); arbitrary detention; reparations; ECOWAS Court jurisdiction.
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16 May 2025 |
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ECOWAS Court lacks jurisdiction over a private party’s contractual claim against a Member State; objection upheld.
ECOWAS Court jurisdiction — limits of Article 9 of the Supplementary Protocol — contractual disputes by private parties against Member States — lack of jurisdiction; costs awarded against unsuccessful party.
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15 May 2025 |
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Prolonged pretrial detention violated rights to liberty, movement, fair trial and prohibition of inhuman treatment; release and compensation ordered.
Human rights — Arbitrary and prolonged pretrial detention — Jurisdiction of ECOWAS Court — Admissibility and inapplicability of Article 9(3) limitation to human rights claims — Violations: right to liberty, freedom of movement, fair trial within reasonable time, prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment — Reparations: immediate release and compensation.
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15 May 2025 |
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State-ordered internet shutdowns unlawfully infringed applicants' rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and right to work.
Internet shutdowns – Freedom of expression and access to information – Legality, legitimate purpose and proportionality – Right to work affected by internet restrictions – Standing of juristic persons for expression/information claims – Jurisdictional limits re: non-human-rights regulatory instruments.
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14 May 2025 |
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The Court dismissed the applicant's challenge to vagrancy provisions for lack of jurisdiction absent identifiable victims.
Human rights jurisdiction – Article 9(4) Protocol – requirement of real and identifiable victims – no abstract review of domestic laws; Vagrancy laws – challenge to Penal and Criminal Code provisions – generalized reports and advisory opinions insufficient to establish jurisdiction.
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14 May 2025 |
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Applicant's recruitment challenge dismissed for lack of evidence; Court affirms jurisdiction and admissibility.
Staff law — Recruitment and appointment — Management Succession Committee discretion — Burden of proof in discrimination claims — Exhaustion of internal remedies — Equitable geographical distribution as ancillary criterion — Protection of dignity under staff regulations.
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13 May 2025 |
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Default judgment: State violated applicant’s rights to liberty and property but not proven torture; damages awarded US$20,000.
Human rights – ECOWAS Court jurisdiction – Default judgment – Arbitrary arrest and detention (Article 6 ACHPR) – Property rights violation (Article 14 ACHPR) – Insufficient proof of torture/ill‑treatment (Article 5 ACHPR) – Damages awarded.
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13 May 2025 |
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Application alleging human-rights violations dismissed for inadmissibility due to applicants' failure to prove standing and legal personality.
Human rights — ECOWAS Court jurisdiction under Article 9(4) — Admissibility under Article 10(d) — Locus standi — Direct and indirect victims — Proof of familial relationship — Legal personality of an Estate — Failure to prove standing leads to inadmissibility and dismissal.
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13 May 2025 |
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Court finds jurisdiction for Articles 14 and 26 claims but dismisses property and equality allegations; Berne/WIPO claims outside competence.
Human rights — Right to property (Article 14 ACHPR) — Intellectual property and alleged copying — Jurisdictional limits of regional human-rights court regarding international IP treaties (Berne/WIPO) — Admissibility — Equality before the law (Article 26 ICCPR) — Distinction between criminal/IP remedies and human-rights violations.
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12 May 2025 |
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State unlawfully restricted applicant's freedom of movement at airport; Court awarded compensation and ordered costs.
Human rights — Freedom of movement — Article 12(2) African Charter — Restrictions must be prescribed by law, necessary and proportionate — Burden of proof and evidentiary shift on prima facie showing — State liability and reparations — Costs of proceedings.
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9 May 2025 |
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Application alleging discrimination from banning celebrities in gambling adverts dismissed for lack of proof; Gaming Commission not a proper party.
Human-rights jurisdiction – State responsibility for acts of national agencies – Proper parties before ECOWAS Court – Non-discrimination (Article 2 ACHPR) – Burden of proof in discrimination claims – Requirement to prove differential treatment and produce documentary evidence.
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8 May 2025 |
| April 2025 |
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Whether successive prosecutions breached non bis in idem and defence rights — Court found no violation; damages denied.
Human rights — Fair trial — Non bis in idem (res judicata) — Right of defence — Accused's absence and counsel's inability to plead in substitution — Admissibility and jurisdiction of ECOWAS Court — Damages and counterclaim for abusive proceedings.
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12 April 2025 |
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Public‑interest challenge successful for freedom of expression: two Kano blasphemy provisions incompatible with international law.
Freedom of expression – actio popularis admissibility – private vs public rights – legality and precision of restrictions – proportionality of penalties – blasphemy laws invalid where vague or imposing death penalty – State responsibility for subnational laws.
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9 April 2025 |
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Respondent held liable for inhuman treatment and unreasonable investigatory delay; damages and investigation ordered.
Human rights — Prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; State responsibility for acts of law‑enforcement agents; Right to fair trial — investigation and trial within a reasonable time; Admissibility — victim status and jurisdiction; Remedies — monetary compensation and orders to investigate; Costs and reporting obligations.
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9 April 2025 |
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Applicant failed to prove State violated right to health after State-authorised import and gave procurement instructions.
Human rights — Right to health — Availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality — State obligations to respect, protect and fulfil health rights — Authorization and procedural guidance for importation of hospital-use medicines — Burden of proof on applicant — Procedural compliance for preliminary objections.
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7 April 2025 |
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Applicant's claim that denial of safe abortion violated rights dismissed for lack of evidence; Court cannot assess domestic law in abstract.
Human rights — Right to health and reproductive rights — Access to safe abortion after rape — Jurisdiction of ECOWAS Court over concrete human rights violations — No jurisdiction to review domestic law in abstract — Burden of evidence in human rights claims.
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4 April 2025 |
| March 2025 |
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State violated applicant's right to effective remedy and failed to prevent or investigate severe sexual violence, meriting reparation and structural orders.
Human rights — Sexual violence by non-state actors — State due diligence to prevent, investigate and prosecute — Right to an effective remedy and access to justice — Prohibition of torture/cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment — Gender discrimination (unproven) — Default judgment procedure — Reparations and positive obligations to provide victim support services.
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20 March 2025 |
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Default judgment: State violated applicant's dignity, liberty, presumption of innocence and privacy; awarded CFA 30 million.
Human rights — ECOWAS Court jurisdiction — Default judgment procedure — Arbitrary detention and deprivation of liberty — Inhuman and degrading treatment — Presumption of innocence — Privacy, honour and reputation — Reparations and State investigation — Costs.
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17 March 2025 |
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Repeal and reform of land laws rendered discrimination claims moot; default judgment and damages denied.
Human rights — Land rights — Alleged discrimination under colonial-era Provinces Land Act — Repeal by National Land Commission Act 2022; Customary Land Rights Act 2022 guarantees non‑discriminatory customary land access — Mootness of claims — Default judgment principles and burden for damages proof.
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17 March 2025 |
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Failure to create an additional state is a domestic constitutional matter, not a breach of equality or development rights.
Public interest litigation; standing of NGOs; jurisdiction ratione personae; actio popularis; margin of appreciation in internal territorial organisation; alleged discrimination (Article 19 African Charter; Article 26 ICCPR); right to development (Article 22 African Charter).
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17 March 2025 |
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State violated multiple human rights—illegal home entry, arbitrary arrest, assembly and fair‑trial breaches; damages awarded.
Human rights – jurisdiction and admissibility – forced entry and arbitrary arrest – violations of rights to private home, liberty, assembly, expression, demonstration and fair trial – failure to inform of right to counsel – damages awarded.
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17 March 2025 |
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Court found violations of fair-trial rights (defense access and unreasonable delay) but no arbitrary detention or torture; awarded damages.
Human rights — Jurisdiction of ECOWAS Court — Admissibility — Expedited procedure — Fair trial: right of defense, equality of arms, and trial within a reasonable time — Arbitrary detention — Torture and inhuman or degrading treatment — Damages and costs.
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14 March 2025 |
| February 2025 |
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Court found jurisdiction but dismissed the application as inadmissible for lack of applicants' victim status.
Human rights jurisdiction – continuing state obligation to investigate and prosecute – admissibility – standing/victim status under Article 10(d) – Article 9(3) limitation not applicable – Court not an appellate forum for national courts.
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28 February 2025 |
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Failure to exhaust internal administrative remedies, including appeal to the Council of Ministers, renders the applicant's application inadmissible.
Administrative law – ECOWAS Staff Regulations – exhaustion of internal remedies – Article 73(a) – appeal to Council of Ministers required before Court – admissibility; Jurisdiction – Article 9(1)(f) – former staff as "official" of the Community; interpretation of "may" in context.
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28 February 2025 |
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Respondent unlawfully deprived the victim of life, failed to investigate, and must investigate, prosecute and pay compensation.
Human rights — Right to life (Article 4 African Charter) — State responsibility for agents’ lethal force — Duty to investigate — Right to fair hearing (Article 7) — Admissibility: victim status and proof of family relationship — Reparations: compensation and prosecution orders.
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28 February 2025 |
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The Court lacked jurisdiction because the applicant sought review of national court decisions, not a human-rights violation.
Human rights — Property rights — Jurisdiction of ECOWAS Court — Alleged loss of ownership resulting from national court and administrative decisions — ECOWAS Court not an appellate forum to review domestic judicial decisions — Inadmissibility/ lack of jurisdiction.
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14 February 2025 |
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Representative human-rights claims require proof of mandate; absence of authorization renders the application inadmissible despite jurisdiction.
Human rights — Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly — Admissibility — Victim status and standing — Representative actions require proof of mandate/authorization — ECOWAS Community Court jurisdiction.
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14 February 2025 |
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Court had jurisdiction but dismissed public-interest dam claim as inadmissible for failing to identify envisagable victims.
Human rights – public interest litigation – admissibility – locus standi of NGOs – NGO registration in ECOWAS Member State required – victims in public interest suits must be capable of being envisaged – jurisdiction of ECOWAS Court triggered by mere allegation of rights violations.
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14 February 2025 |
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Court held ECOWAS sanctions lawfully imposed on Mali did not give rise to individual compensation claims.
ECOWAS law – Jurisdiction under Article 9(1)(g) for damages claims against Community institutions; default judgment procedure; lawfulness of sanctions under Revised Treaty Article 77(3) and Protocols on Democracy and Conflict Mechanism; limits of Article 9(4) human rights jurisdiction; no liability for lawful Community acts.
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14 February 2025 |
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Court accepted jurisdiction but dismissed religious and property claims for lack of evidence and state attribution.
ECOWAS Court jurisdiction — admissibility of individual human rights applications — limits on adjudicating national constitutional provisions — state responsibility and attribution for acts of private individuals — evidentiary burden in human rights claims — remedies (reparations and injunctions).
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13 February 2025 |
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13 February 2025 |
| January 2025 |
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Court affirmed jurisdiction but dismissed the suit for lack of standing, representative mandate, and actio popularis requirements.
Human rights — Freedom of expression — Admissibility — Article 10(d) Supplementary Protocol — Locus standi — Actio popularis — Representative actions — Authorization/mandate — Domestic law challenge — Jurisdiction ratione materiae.
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27 January 2025 |
| December 2024 |
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ECOWAS Court finds state liable for torture by police, awards compensation and orders investigation and prosecution.
Human rights — Torture and ill‑treatment — Article 5 African Charter — ECOWAS Court jurisdiction over individual human‑rights claims — Statute of limitations inapplicable to human‑rights applications — Presumption of state responsibility for injuries in custody — Burden of proof and necessity of independent medical corroboration — Remedies: compensation, investigation and prosecution.
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3 December 2024 |
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Default judgment: media expressions not attributable to State; interdiction lawful but prolonged unresolved process violated right to work.
Human rights – jurisdiction and admissibility – default judgment formalities – attribution of private media conduct to State – presumption of innocence and interdiction – right to work – reparations for prolonged unresolved administrative/ criminal processes.
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3 December 2024 |
| November 2024 |
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Default judgment: initial immigration detention lawful; re-arrest and detention after charge withdrawal arbitrary, awarding USD10,000.
Human rights — Default judgment — Jurisdiction of ECOWAS Court over human-rights claims — Lawful detention under immigration law vs. arbitrary re-arrest and detention — Article 6 African Charter (liberty) — Insufficient evidence for breaches of fair hearing, freedom of movement, equality and non-discrimination.
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22 November 2024 |
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The re-arrest and detention of the foreign applicant after charges were dropped were arbitrary, and thus unlawful.
Human Rights – Liberty – Arbitrary Detention – Fair Hearing – Freedom of Movement – Non-Discrimination – Foreign National – Deportation.
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22 November 2024 |
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22 November 2024 |
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Default judgment denied because the applicant's torture allegations lacked sufficient identity and injury evidence.
Human rights; torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; default judgment; burden of proof in default; proof of identity and injury; ECOWAS Court jurisdiction and admissibility; evidentiary standards; State responsibility for security agents.
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14 November 2024 |
