ECOWAS Court’s New Leadership Reaffirms Commitment Over Partnership With UNHCR

ABUJA, NIGERIA – The newly elected President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court, Honourable Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, and Vice President, Honourable Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, received a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Thursday.

The visit marked the first official engagement for the new leadership, highlighting the Court’s strong relationship with the UNHCR.

During the courtesy call, President Gonçalves emphasised the Court’s commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the UNHCR in 2022.

“We are fully prepared to ensure a productive collaboration,” he stated, assuring the delegation of the Court’s unwavering support.

Mr. Hervé Kuate, Senior Adviser for the UNHCR, who led the delegation, congratulated the new leadership and acknowledged the longstanding partnership between the two organizations.

He expressed the need to build upon the current MoU, highlighting the shared goal of “exploring new horizons together”.

Vice President Koroma also expressed his optimism for a continued and strengthened partnership with the UNHCR.

“We value the collaboration and look forward to working together to achieve common goals,” he said.

Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, Chief Registrar of the Court, who was also present at the meeting, provided an update on the implementation of the 2022 MoU, focusing on capacity-building, training, and other areas of collaboration.

Following the meeting, the Chief Registrar held a technical session with the delegation to develop an action plan for upcoming activities outlined in the MoU.

This visit underscores the crucial role the ECOWAS Court plays in upholding human rights and refugee protection in the region.

The partnership with the UNHCR remains essential in achieving these objectives and ensuring a more just and equitable future for all.