Freetown, 22nd July 2026 – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has formally endorsed Sierra Leone’s candidate, Prof. Dr. Charles C. Jalloh, for election as Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
In Paragraph 73 of the Final Communiqué issued at the recent ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government meeting, the regional bloc expressed solidarity with Sierra Leone’s bid, stating:
“The Authority welcomes the spirit of solidarity demonstrated by Member States in support of regional candidatures and endorses the candidature of the Republic of Sierra Leone for the position of Judge of the International Court of Justice for the period 2027–2036.”
This endorsement strengthens Sierra Leone’s campaign for Prof. Jalloh, a distinguished scholar and practitioner of international law, who was first nominated by the Sierra Leone National Group in October 2024. The Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations subsequently announced the government’s backing of his candidacy.
Prof. Jalloh is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for International Law and Policy in Africa (CILPA), and has built a reputation as one of Africa’s leading voices in international law. His career spans academia, legal practice, and leadership in shaping global justice frameworks.
The vote for the full nine-year term (2027–2036) is scheduled for November 2026 in New York.
With ECOWAS’ endorsement, Sierra Leone’s candidate now enjoys the backing of West Africa’s regional bloc, a significant diplomatic boost as the country seeks to secure representation on the World Court.
