By: Saidu Jalloh
Sierra Leone has nominated Professor Dr. Charles Chernor Jalloh as its candidate for election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with government officials and legal experts highlighting the importance of international law in promoting peaceful settlement of disputes across Africa.
The nomination was highlighted during a symposium titled “The Role and Contributions of the International Court of Justice in Peaceful Settlement of Disputes in Africa,” organised by the Centre for International Law and Policy in Africa (CILPA) at the Foreign Service Academy Auditorium on Wednesday, 2nd September 2026.
Delivering the keynote address, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, warned that a world governed solely by power rather than law would leave smaller nations vulnerable. He observed that while powerful countries often have multiple means of safeguarding their interests, smaller states depend heavily on international law and multilateral institutions to protect their sovereignty and promote peace.
Sesay pointed out that Africa has consistently demonstrated its commitment to resolving disputes through legal processes rather than warfare, noting that the continent has referred 37 contentious cases to the International Court of Justice. He argued that Africa should not only continue supporting the international legal order but should also be adequately represented within global institutions responsible for administering justice.
Professor Dr. Charles Chernor Jalloh underscored the importance of the International Court of Justice at a time when geopolitical tensions continue to rise and many nations increasingly resort to conflict instead of dialogue.
He explained that the ICJ was established to ensure that disputes between states are resolved through law rather than war, noting that the Court’s judgments are binding on member states.
Professor Jalloh noted that Africa has repeatedly relied on international law to resolve disputes involving boundaries, sovereignty and political tensions, helping to prevent conflicts across the continent. He cited the boundary dispute between Burkina Faso and Mali as an example in which African states chose legal settlement over armed confrontation, demonstrating the continent’s confidence in international judicial mechanisms.
He maintained that Africa’s commitment to peaceful dispute resolution provides a strong justification for greater representation on the International Court of Justice. Such representation, he contended, would enable the continent to participate more effectively in shaping international jurisprudence while strengthening global efforts to resolve disputes peacefully.
Professor Jalloh also emphasized that judges of the ICJ do not serve as representatives of their governments but act independently in accordance with international law. This principle, he stated, is one that the Government of Sierra Leone has respected throughout his nomination process.
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, expressed appreciation to President Julius Maada Bio and his predecessor for advancing the agenda of making Sierra Leone’s candidature a continental rallying point.
Minister Swarray described it as a privilege to present Sierra Leone’s candidature for the election of Professor Charles Chernor Jalloh to the International Court of Justice.
He highlighted Professor Jalloh’s extensive experience in international law, noting that his candidature has been endorsed by both ECOWAS and the African Union and has attracted broad international support.
Swarray revealed that Professor Jalloh’s candidature has received the attention and support of 13 West African states, including all five states from the United Nations regional group, which, he said, have expressed trust and confidence in his candidature.
The Foreign Affairs Minister asserted that Sierra Leone believes Professor Jalloh’s education, scholarship and experience with the International Law Commission position him as a strong candidate for the ICJ.
The symposium provided a platform for legal experts, government officials and other stakeholders to examine the role of the ICJ in promoting peaceful dispute settlement and strengthening Africa’s participation in the international legal order.