Prominent Gambian international human rights lawyer Gaye Sowe has officially assumed office as Director of Legal Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission, effective February 2, 2026. The appointment marks a significant milestone in Sowe’s distinguished career dedicated to advancing human rights, the rule of law, and regional justice across Africa.
Sowe brings a wealth of experience to his new position. Before this role, he served as Registrar for Appeals, Arbitration, and Enforcement at the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria, following his October 2022 appointment. In that capacity, he played a key role in managing judicial processes, including appeals and enforcement mechanisms for the regional court, during which he highlighted challenges, including member states’ non-compliance with court judgments and significant backlogs in countries like Nigeria.
Before joining the ECOWAS Court, Sowe was the Executive Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), a pan-African organization based in The Gambia. Under his leadership since October 2015, IHRDA has focused on litigation, capacity-building, and advocacy in areas such as constitutional law, non-discrimination, and regional human rights protections. He previously served as a commissioner on The Gambia’s Constitutional Review Commission, contributing to national legal reforms.
Sowe’s academic credentials include an LLM from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom, an LLB from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, and a BL (Hons) from the Nigerian Law School. Licensed to practice law in multiple jurisdictions, he has built a reputation as a dynamic legal practitioner specializing in common law, criminal law, and human rights litigation at both domestic and regional levels.
His transition to the ECOWAS Commission comes at a critical time for the Economic Community of West African States, as the organization addresses ongoing regional challenges, including political instability, the enforcement of community decisions, and the strengthening of institutional frameworks.
Sowe’s appointment is expected to bolster the Commission’s legal department, drawing on his extensive expertise in human rights and judicial administration to support ECOWAS’s mission of promoting integration, peace, and justice in West Africa.
