ECOWAS Court and ICRC Strengthen Partnership to Promote International Humanitarian Law in West Africa
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice (CCJ) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the domestication and enforcement of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) across West African nations.
In his opening remarks at the ICRC-ECOWAS IHL Workshop in Abuja, Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro, President of the ECOWAS Court, highlighted the importance of collaboration between the two organizations, noting the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ECOWAS Court and the ICRC in Nigeria. The MoU is intended to bolster the implementation of IHL in the Lake Chad region and West Africa at large.
Yann Bonzon, Head of the ICRC Delegation in Nigeria, emphasized the critical role of IHL in alleviating the suffering of civilians caught in armed conflicts. He also praised the ECOWAS Court for its key role in upholding IHL and International Human Rights Law (IHRL), expressing confidence that the continued promotion of IHL would strengthen the court’s capacity to address humanitarian challenges across the region.
Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, Chief Registrar of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, commended the ICRC for its global efforts in protecting victims of armed conflict and violence.
The workshop, which marked a significant return after a five-year gap since the last forum in 2019, saw participants calling for more extensive cooperation at all levels of society to ensure the effective application of IHL in West Africa. A highlight of the event was the launch of the International Humanitarian Law digital app, aimed at enhancing access to IHL resources and information for stakeholders across the region.
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