Sub-Regional Courts in Africa: Litigating the Hybrid Right to Freedom of Movement

25 Pages Posted: 30 Aug 2015 Last revised: 15 Nov 2019

See all articles by Laurence R. Helfer

Laurence R. Helfer

Duke University School of Law; University of Copenhagen - iCourts - Centre of Excellence for International Courts

Date Written: September 1, 2015

Abstract

Human rights attorneys and civil society groups in Africa have recently focused their advocacy efforts on sub-regional courts associated with economic integration communities in East, West and Southern Africa. The East African Court of Justice (EACJ), the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Tribunal of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have received few suits challenging trade restrictions and other barriers to sub-regional integration. Instead, and surprisingly, the courts’ dockets are dominated by complaints alleging violations of international human rights law.

This article offers the first analysis of EACJ, ECOWAS Court and SADC Tribunal decisions concerning the free movement of persons. Freedom of movement is a hybrid legal right. It is protected in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and in other human rights instruments, but it is also a central pillar of all regional integration systems. Free movement case law thus offers a revealing lens through which to examine how African sub-regional courts decide which litigants have access to justice, interpret international legal norms, and fashion the remedies awarded to successful complainants.

Keywords: free movement, international court, Africa, ECOWAS, East African Court of Justice, SADC, human rights, regional integration, African Charter

Suggested Citation

Helfer, Laurence R., Sub-Regional Courts in Africa: Litigating the Hybrid Right to Freedom of Movement (September 1, 2015). iCourts Working Paper Series, No. 32, Duke Law School Public Law & Legal Theory Series No. 2015-43, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2653124 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2653124

Laurence R. Helfer (Contact Author)

Duke University School of Law ( email )

210 Science Dr.
Box 90360
Durham, NC 27708
United States
+1-919-613-8573 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://law.duke.edu/fac/helfer/

University of Copenhagen - iCourts - Centre of Excellence for International Courts ( email )

University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law
Karen Blixens Plads 16
Copenhagen S, DK-2300
Denmark

HOME PAGE: http://jura.ku.dk/icourts/

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
282
Abstract Views
1,918
Rank
196,206
PlumX Metrics