The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to convene the second meeting of Competent National Authorities (CNAs) as part of ongoing efforts to improve the enforcement of its judgments across member states.
The three-day meeting, scheduled to take place in Cotonou, Benin Republic, from June 17 to 19, 2026, is themed: “From Commitment to Framework: Operationalising a Collaborative Architecture for the Enforcement of ECOWAS Court Judgments.”
The gathering will bring together designated Competent National Authorities from ECOWAS member states, representatives of the ECOWAS Commission and Parliament, legal experts, and senior officials of the Court.
According to the Court, the meeting builds on the outcomes of the inaugural CNA meeting held in Lagos in June 2025, where participants adopted recommendations aimed at improving compliance with the Court’s judgments, strengthening institutional capacity, harmonising enforcement procedures, and enhancing cooperation among national enforcement bodies.
A major highlight of the meeting will be the presentation and adoption of a proposed Collaborative Framework for the Enforcement of ECOWAS Court Judgments. Developed through consultations with member states and designated national authorities, the framework is expected to establish a structured mechanism for coordinated enforcement across the region.
The proposed framework seeks to clarify institutional responsibilities, improve communication among stakeholders, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and enhance monitoring of the implementation of Court decisions.
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Participants will also review progress made since the first CNA meeting, examine annual enforcement reports submitted by member states, assess challenges affecting compliance—particularly in human rights cases—and explore practical measures to improve enforcement outcomes.
The Court noted that the meeting is expected to deepen cooperation among the ECOWAS Court, Competent National Authorities, the ECOWAS Commission, and the ECOWAS Parliament, with the objective of building a more effective and coordinated compliance system.
Discussions will further focus on establishing a formal platform for Competent National Authorities to promote peer learning, information sharing, collaboration, and mutual accountability among national enforcement agencies.
Member states that have yet to designate their Competent National Authorities will be encouraged to do so to facilitate the full implementation of the regional enforcement framework.
At the conclusion of the meeting, participants are expected to adopt the collaborative framework, agree on implementation timelines and modalities, refine annual reporting templates, strengthen multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms, and issue a communiqué outlining key commitments and priority actions for improving compliance with ECOWAS Court judgments.
The Court described the meeting as a significant milestone in translating regional commitments into practical action and establishing a durable enforcement architecture capable of improving compliance with judicial decisions across the ECOWAS region.
