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Over 106 judgments of the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (representing 70 percent) have yet to be implemented by member states, and 11 other judgments against ECOWAS are pending, said Court President Edward Amoakō Asante.
Asante made this known during the first regular session of the Parliament of the Fifth Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria.
He condemned the non-compliance with the Tribunal’s judgments but hoped measures will be presented during the session to help improve compliance with the Court’s judgments.
The President stressed that the Court had made a significant contribution to strengthening some of the foundations of democracy, such as respect for human rights and protection of freedom of expression, by holding member states accountable for their obligations under international treaties.
Asante said recent democratic transitions in three member states, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali, eloquently demonstrated the fragility of democracy in the region and underscored the need for collective and consistent vigilance to protect it.
On his part, ECOWAS Parliament Speaker Sidie Tunis expressed concern about the spread of terrorist activity in the Sahel, which is causing the deaths of innocent people, and about the pace of transition in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
“We have a responsibility to promote peace in our region, which can only be achieved by maintaining the structures and respecting the policies and protocols that we already have,” said Tunis.
The President added that ECOWAS will closely monitor developments in Sierra Leone and Liberia ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections in June and October respectively.
The first ordinary session of the 5th Legislature which began on May 8th will end on May 26th, 2023.