The Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, has assured a delegation from Expertise France of the Judiciary’s unwavering commitment to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Speaking at the Chief Justice’s Chambers in Freetown on Monday14th April 2025, the Chief Justice outlined the steps the Judiciary has taken to address these critical issues. “we are committed to fight against human trafficking,” he assured.
As part of its ongoing efforts, the Judiciary has conducted specialized training programs for judges, magistrates, and lawyers, focusing on human trafficking and related offenses, including adoption. These measures are a testament to the Judiciary’s dedication to addressing these crimes, with specially trained judges and magistrates now handling human trafficking and adoption cases exclusively.
“These initiatives have significantly contributed to reducing the occurrence of human trafficking and migrant smuggling in the country,” Chief Justice Kamanda told the visiting delegation from Expertise France.
The deputy head of Migration, Gender, and Human Rights at Expertise France, Ms. Matilda Ngakui Pima, highlighted the agency’s mission to co-design strategies that protect victims of human trafficking and strengthen the judicial and legal systems of partner countries. She emphasized that the visit aimed to understand the Sierra Leone Judiciary’s approach to combating human trafficking, identify gaps in the enforcement of the Human Trafficking and Migration Smuggling Act of 2022, and explore potential collaborations with other national stakeholders.
In response to the delegation’s concerns, Chief Justice Kamanda acknowledged the challenges in securing cooperation from victims, who often face illegal compromises that hinder swift judicial proceedings. He noted that, unlike other criminal offenses, human trafficking cases are tried exclusively at the High Court, as the Magistrate’s Court does not have jurisdiction over such matters.
He further explained that despite the Judiciary’s proactive measures to address human trafficking, limited resources have hampered the ability to fully tackle the issue. These challenges were central to the development of the 2022 Human Trafficking and Migration Smuggling Act, which includes provisions on migrant smuggling.
Madam Ngakui Pima acknowledged the challenges raised by the Chief Justice and assured that Expertise France remains committed to supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts in combating human trafficking. She commended the Judiciary’s approach, describing it as “very ambitious,” and expressed confidence in the potential for future collaboration. The delegation had previously conducted missions in Ghana and Benin and planned to visit Nigeria next.
In closing, the Chief Justice reaffirmed the Judiciary’s steadfast commitment to the fight against human trafficking and highlighted the importance of collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Sierra Leone Police, the Ministry of Social Welfare and Children’s Affairs, the Legal Aid Board, and the Ministry of Justice. He also announced that the Judiciary’s Communications and Public Affairs Department would soon launch a public education campaign aimed at exposing the networks of traffickers and their accomplices.
