Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger End Citizens’ Access to West African Regional Court
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 29, having served notice a year ago, raising concerns over access to justice for the victims of serious human rights abuses in those countries.
When announcing their plans to withdraw, the three military junta-led countries accused ECOWAS of “betraying its founding principles” and being “under the influence of foreign powers.” They also complained of illegal and illegitimate sanctions imposed on them while combating terrorism. Left unsaid was that the three juntas were facing increasing international condemnation for atrocities committed by their forces and the repression of democratic institutions.
Despite the countries’ departure, ECOWAS has pledged to keep its “doors open” and requested its member states continue to allow free movement and trade for everyone with an ECOWAS passport.
Since 2005, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has had jurisdiction to hear human rights cases brought by citizens of member states. It has issued landmark decisions on human rights issues, including in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. A unique feature of the court is that potential applicants do not need to exhaust local remedies before filing a complaint.
Source: hrw.org
