The Senegalese judge, Mahawa Sémou Diouf, is appointed by his peers to represent the Court of Justice of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) for a 3-year term. The official installation took place on Thursday, February 2, 2023 in Ouagadougou during a solemn hearing of this community court.

A press release that officially announced the appointment of Mahawa Sémou Diouf mentions that “in accordance with Article 7 of Additional Act No. 10/96 establishing the statutes of the Court of Justice of the Western Economic and Monetary Union African (UEMOA), the members of the Court appoint the President of the Court from among their number for three years. The President-designate is solemnly installed. The members of the Court share the functions of Judge, First Advocate General and Advocates General among themselves.”

In reality, Mahawa Sémou Diouf is a judge outside the hierarchy. He is 65 years old and is a graduate of the National School of Administration and Magistracy in Dakar, Senegal, where he graduated in 1985, valedictorian of the Judiciary section.