Dispute among member state of ECOWAS are settled by _________?

Analyze the question: The question asks which ECOWAS body settles disputes among member states. This is about the institutions of ECOWAS and what each one does.

Explain the concept: ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) was founded in 1975 by the Treaty of Lagos and revised in 1993. Its main institutions and their roles are:

• Authority of Heads of State and Government: the supreme decision-making body.
• Council of Ministers: oversees the running and development of the Community and makes recommendations to the Authority.
• Community Tribunal (Court of Justice): interprets the Treaty and settles disputes between member states and between the Community and its institutions.
• Technical and Specialized Commissions: prepare projects and programmes in areas such as trade, transport, energy and social affairs.
• Executive Secretariat (now the Commission): the administrative arm.
• Board of Trustees: not an ECOWAS organ for dispute settlement. It is associated with the Fund for Cooperation, Compensation and Development.

Solution:

1. Technical and Specialized Commissions (A) handle technical planning, not disputes.
2. The Board of Trustee (B) is not a judicial organ.
3. The Council of Ministers (D) is administrative and advisory.
4. The Community Tribunal (C) is the judicial organ of ECOWAS. Under the Treaty, disputes among member states are referred to it.

Correct answer: C. The community tribunal

Exam tip: For any "dispute" or "settlement" question on international organisations, look for the judicial organ: Tribunal, Court of Justice or Court. In the AU it is the Court of Justice, in the UN it is the International Court of Justice, and in ECOWAS it is the Community Tribunal or Court of Justice.