The president of Cape Verde, José Neves, has reaffirmed  his country’s commitment and determination to pursue initiatives that would strengthen community justice and integration in the West African sub-region.

He said this at the ECOWAS Court‘s 2025/2026 Legal Year celebration, with the theme ‘ECOWAS Court and International Law: Expanding Access and Navigating Contemporary Challenges’, on Thursday in Abuja.

While reiterating his willingness to work with other West African leaders, he said they could only successfully address the challenges of integration and community justice through collective action and solidarity.

“Article 68 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty recognises the peculiar nature of island states that are landlocked and provides for a differentiated treatment and adequate support. It is imperative that this principle be fully applied to transform the vulnerability of the so-called jurors of the outermost regions into a strategic singularity and an effective contribution to the wealth of the community,” he said.

He said it was also important for West African leaders to explore different forms of cooperation with ECOWAS member states, which have distanced themselves from the bloc, even when reintegration was impossible.

The president noted that the ECOWAS Court is a guarantor of legality, an impartial arbiter of disputes, a guardian of the fundamental rights of citizens, and the mainstay of the community’s credibility.

He said Africa was still facing border disputes, institutional weaknesses, and recurring tensions, so the existence of an independent and respected community court was a triumph of civilization that must be preserved and praised.

The president explained that doing so would strengthen the people’s trust in the institutions and consolidate the foundations of democracy.

Mr Neves challenged the ECOWAS Court to assert itself as a legal arbiter and catalyst for a new political culture, legality, transparency, accountability, and respect for international law and multilateralism.

He stressed that community justice must inspire Africa to construct a rules-based order with democracy and peace, as Africa would not be respected globally until it enforces its own rule of law.

Speaking earlier, ECOWAS Court President Justice Ricardo Gonçalves urged the governments of ECOWAS member states to fully recognise the court’s authority and cooperate with it in enforcing the court’s judgments.

Gonçalves disclosed that only about 30 per cent of the court’s judgments had been enforced, and decried that the non-enforcement of judgments was the court’s most formidable challenge.

Justice minister Lateef Fagbemi advocated for reforms in the ECOWAS Court of Justice to enhance citizens’ access to justice and address contemporary challenges.

(NAN)