By Innocent Anaba

The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, has announced that the second edition of its Moot Court Competition will hold in Dakar, Senegal, from May 20 to 22, 2026.

The annual competition, organised by the regional court, is designed to deepen law students’ understanding of Community law, as well as the jurisdiction and jurisprudence of the ECOWAS Court.

According to the Court, the programme is also aimed at promoting advocacy, legal research, analytical skills and practical legal training among future legal practitioners within the West African sub-region.

Themed, “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Jurists,” this year’s edition will provide participating students with an opportunity to combine academic learning with simulated legal proceedings.

The Court explained that the initiative forms part of its broader commitment to strengthening legal education, enhancing awareness of the Court’s mandate and promoting stronger engagement between the judiciary, academic institutions and emerging legal professionals across the region.
Eight universities from Francophone ECOWAS member states, including Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal and Togo, are expected to participate in the competition, while a university from Cape Verde will attend as observers.

Each participating university will be represented by two students and one faculty adviser.

The maiden edition of the competition, which was held in Abuja in 2025, featured eight Nigerian universities at the oral stage out of 13 institutions that submitted memorials for consideration. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, emerged overall winner of the inaugural edition.

The competition is structured in two phases comprising written and oral rounds.
Under the written phase, participating teams are required to prepare memorials for both applicant and respondent based on a hypothetical case centred on issues within the jurisdiction of the ECOWAS Court.
Following assessment of the written submissions, the eight best-performing teams will proceed to the oral phase scheduled to hold in Dakar.

The oral stage will feature preliminary and semi-final rounds during which participants will present oral arguments before designated panels.

Teams that qualify from the semi-final stage will advance to the final round where they will argue before a distinguished panel of judges.
The event will climax with an awards and closing ceremony where prizes will be presented to outstanding participants and teams, while a guided cultural tour is scheduled for May 23.

Dignitaries expected at the event include senior government officials from Senegal, members of the judiciary and bar association, representatives of partner organisations, academics, law students, members of the media and other invited guests.

Judges and staff members of the ECOWAS Court are also expected to attend the event.
The Court noted that the competition would help strengthen advocacy and legal reasoning skills among participants, deepen knowledge of international and Community law, and promote awareness of the role of the ECOWAS Court in regional integration and human rights protection.

It added that the initiative would contribute to developing a more informed and professionally prepared generation of legal practitioners across West Africa.

The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS reaffirmed its commitment to promoting legal excellence, access to justice, human rights and deeper understanding of its procedures and jurisprudence among future lawyers in the region.

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