Togo court hears regional review of constitution
Jurists gather at Lomé University to discuss the ECOWAS Court's January 29, 2026 ruling on Togo's March 2024 constitutional changes.
Jurists from across the sub-region are meeting at the University of Lomé on October 29 and 30, 2026, to discuss the role of regional courts. The conference, held in the Koffi Ahadzi-Nonou hall, focuses on African regional human rights courts and their oversight of constitutional changes. A key session examines the ECOWAS Court of Justice's January 29, 2026 decision concerning Togo's March 2024 constitutional reform.
The opposition views the ECOWAS Court's ruling as a victory, suggesting it invalidates the current Togolese government's legitimacy. However, the government disputes this, stating the Court lacks jurisdiction over internal constitutional matters and that its ruling does not mandate the repeal of the law or financial reparations. A political scientist noted that while the ECOWAS Court is not a constitutional court and did not order the law's withdrawal, it affirmed that constituent powers are not above international law.
The international colloquium includes panels on regional oversight of constitutional revisions and the enforcement of community court decisions. Speakers include Professor Alioune Sall, a former court judge, and Professor Dodzi Kokoroko, who will moderate a panel featuring academics from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, France, and Togo. Other participants include Dandi Gnamou, Seni Ouedraogo, Fabrice Hourquebie, and Augustin Loada.
Why it mattersThe ECOWAS Court of Justice's ruling on Togo's constitutional reform is being debated by legal experts, impacting the perception of the government's legitimacy.