Government officials Intensifies Campaign for ICJ Spot

Government officials Intensifies Campaign for ICJ Spot

Sierra Leone has formally intensified its diplomatic efforts to secure international support for Professor Charles C. Jalloh’s election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Speaking at the conclusion of a high-level symposium on the role of the ICJ in peaceful dispute resolution in Africa, Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah called on international partners and UN member states to endorse Jalloh’s candidacy.

The symposium was jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Center for International Law and Policy in Africa (CILPA). The event convened government delegates, diplomats, legal scholars, members of the judiciary, and civil society representatives to evaluate global judicial mechanisms.

During his closing address, Minister Bah emphasized the critical role of multilateral legal frameworks during periods of heightened geopolitical tension. He stated that reliance on established judicial institutions ensures equitable dispute resolution across sovereign states regardless of size or geopolitical influence.

“Power alone favours the powerful,” Bah remarked, noting that institutional rules provide smaller nations with equal standing under international law.

He further highlighted that unresolved territorial and resource conflicts carry substantial economic and human costs, underscoring international law as a necessary framework for maintaining stability and facilitating economic development.

The campaign aligns with Sierra Leone’s broader multilateral initiatives, including its current non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, advocacy for Security Council reform, and active participation in regional bodies such as ECOWAS and the African Union.

“Sierra Leone may be small, but we are clear in purpose and consistent in principle,”

Bah stated, pointing to the nation’s legal filings on climate change before international tribunals as evidence of its expanding contributions to global jurisprudence.

Professor Jalloh’s credentials include extensive service in international legal scholarship and public service. He currently holds a leadership position on the UN International Law Commission, has represented Sierra Leone before international tribunals, and founded CILPA to advance legal education across the continent.

His candidacy has received formal endorsements from both ECOWAS and the African Union, alongside cross-regional backing from several UN member states.

The election for the International Court of Justice is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

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