Government Explains Decision to Withdraw Jalloh from ICJ Race
Sierra Leone has explained its decision to withdraw Professor Charles Chernor Jalloh’s candidacy for election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), saying the move was necessary to protect Africa’s representation on the 15-member world court.
The decision was announced by Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, who addressed the UN General Assembly on behalf of the government, confirming that the country had withdrawn Jalloh’s candidature and thrown its support behind Kenya’s Judge Phoebe Okowa.
Explaining the decision, Ambassador Kanu said the government did not take the withdrawal lightly, describing Jalloh as one of the finest international lawyers of his generation. He acknowledged the international support behind his candidacy, which had received endorsements from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), alongside co-nominations from 13 member states across different regions.
However, Kanu said the government was concerned that divided African support could jeopardise the continent’s opportunity to retain its representation on the Court.
He noted that Africa, with 54 member states representing more than a quarter of the United Nations membership, occupies only three of the Court’s 15 seats, accounting for 20 per cent of its membership.
“Africa has 54 member states, more than a quarter of this organisation, and holds only three of the 15 seats on the Court,” Kanu told the General Assembly, describing the continent’s representation as inadequate.
He added: “Saving Africa’s seat matters more than any one national candidate. Our decision puts the continent first.”
Kanu also highlighted Okowa’s legal scholarship, experience before the Court and contributions to international law, noting that her election would strengthen women’s representation on the ICJ bench.
He further cited Article 9 of the ICJ Statute, which requires the Court’s composition to reflect the main forms of civilisation and principal legal systems of the world, arguing that Africa’s common law, civil law, Islamic law and customary legal traditions deserve adequate representation.
Despite the withdrawal, Kanu expressed gratitude to the countries and organisations that had supported Jalloh, maintaining that his contributions to international law would continue beyond the election.
Following Sierra Leone’s announcement, Okowa secured 183 votes in the General Assembly and an absolute majority in the Security Council, securing election to a full nine-year term beginning February 6, 2027.
The Sierra Leone government said its decision was guided by the need to protect Africa’s representation on the international judicial body rather than prioritise an individual national candidacy.
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