The Court of Justice of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) was created by article 38 of the amended WAEMU Treaty and by Additional Protocol No. 1 relating to the supervisory bodies of the WAEMU. Its mission is to ensure the application of the law with regard to the application and interpretation of the Treaty of the Union. This includes ensuring the uniform application of Community law in the eight Member States: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. Since its creation and installation on 27 January 1995, the Court has worked to guarantee the legality and proper administration of Community justice, the guarantee of a truly integrated area.

 

Consistent application and Protection of rights

The Court’s mission is to act in its capacity as guardian of the Treaty, ensuring that it and the acts issued by the various bodies for its application are respected and applied consistently in all Member States. The Court of Justice works to establish an area where WAEMU Community law safeguards the interests of the Union and protects the rights of Union nationals.

 

As the judicial supervisory body of the WAEMU, the Court ensures legal stability and predictability, essential elements for successful regional integration. It works with impartiality and integrity to offer legal solutions whenever cases are brought before it by its litigants, namely the Member States, the organs of the Union and Community nationals, seeking protection of the rights they derive from the Treaty.

 

A Commitment to Transparency and cooperation

At the heart of the Court of Justice’s mission is the desire to make Community law accessible and comprehensible to all citizens of the Union. We firmly believe that the law should not be the preserve of the initiated, but should be brought to the attention of all sections of society in our Union. For this reason, the Community Courts have for years been striving to promote transparency by making information about its decisions and activities available to the public.

 

The WAEMU Court of Justice actively supports Member States in the implementation of Community standards and principles, through enhanced cooperation with national courts.

 

The Court of Justice, guarantor of a stable environment

Thanks to the powers conferred on it by the Treaty, the WAEMU Court of Justice ensures a stable legal environment, a guarantee of the achievement of the objectives set by article 4 of the amended WAEMU Treaty, namely the integrated development of member states.

 

Community Justice and dematerialisation

To facilitate access to Community justice, the Court has developed the eCJUEMOA platform for the exchange of procedural documents between the Court and the parties.

 

It also makes its extensive library of works specifically on EU law available to the public virtually.

 

We invite you to explore our site to find out more about Community jurisdiction.