Lomé university hosts legal debate on judicial sovereignty
Jurists from eight countries discuss limits of regional court power over national laws.
The University of Lomé hosted a two-day conference starting October 29, 2026, bringing together legal scholars and political scientists from eight countries. The event focused on the extent to which regional judges can exercise authority without infringing upon the sovereignty of member states, a question heightened by a recent ECOWAS Court ruling concerning Togo.
Organized by the university's Public Law Centre, the conference examined regional human rights courts' role in protecting the rule of law, overseeing constitutional changes, and respecting state sovereignty. University President Pr Kossivi Hounaké stated the goal was to analyze the court's decisions without blind celebration or outright rejection based on closed sovereignty, emphasizing that a ruling is only fully effective when understood and applied.
Discussions included panels on regional oversight of constitutional revisions, the authority of national constitutional courts versus the ECOWAS Court, and the legal force of international protocols. A roundtable on Friday, October 30, addressed community protection of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, including judicial dialogue and citizen access to regional courts.
Why it mattersTogolese legal and political experts are debating the limits of regional court power over national sovereignty following a recent ECOWAS Court decision affecting Togo.