By Nafisatu Olayinka Deen
Freetown, 28th April 2026 – Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of Sierra Leone, has pledged Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening judicial cooperation and advancing justice across West Africa. He was speaking at the ECOWAS Judicial Council Meeting in his capacity as Keynote speaker.
“We are particularly proud to host this distinguished council for the very first time. This moment reflects not only the historic leadership of ECOWAS by His Excellency, President Bio, but also Sierra Leone’s growing role within our regional architecture in our collective commitment to strengthening judicial cooperation and advancing justice across West Africa, he said.
The meeting, which was held at the Atlantic Hotel in Freetown from April 20 to April 24, 2026, brought together approximately 12 Chief Justices, 15 Judges, and distinguished judicial officials from across the ECOWAS region, chaired by the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Komba Kamanda.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh mentioned that the challenges faced by the community are “transnational,” urged member states to work as a “unified body” to tackle these challenges. “The challenges faced by the community are increasingly transnational, so our response to these challenges cannot remain fragmented. We must continue to strengthen judicial cooperation across our region. No single jurisdiction can fully address these challenges in isolation. Therefore, cooperation is not optional but essential. It is through cooperation that we can harmonize legal standards, promote judicial dialogue and build a collective capacity that matches the scale and complexity of the threats we face,” he said, whilst describing the meeting as a timely one.
The Chairman of the ECOWAS Judicial Council Meeting, Chief Justice Komaba Kamanda, said the meeting reflects collective commitment of member states to strengthen the justice system. “This moment reflects our shared commitment to strengthening justice, human rights and the rule of law in the West African region. It is an integral part of our core mandate to harmonize our laws and support regional reintegration,” he said, expressing gratitude to the honourable chief justices from other member states for being present, noting that “Attendance at this year [’s] meeting has been excellent with no record of absenteeism. I therefore remain grateful to all my colleagues and the member states.’’
The ECOWAS Judicial Council is a vital platform for strengthening judicial cooperation, promoting the rule of law, and enhancing the administration of justice within member states of the ECOWAS. Hosting this landmark event highlights Sierra Leone’s growing leadership role in regional judicial reforms and emphasizes its commitment to upholding judicial independence, accountability, and cross-border legal collaboration.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, urged the community to make reforms that will continue to provide justice for all. “The Judiciary is the last line of defense for the common man. We gather here at a time when Sierra Leone is undergoing a transformative legal renaissance under the leadership of president Julius Maada Bio. We are committed to upholding the rule of law and provide justice for all,” he said.
The Honorable Chief Justice Komba Kamanda said that the Judiciary of Sierra Leone looks forward to facilitating productive engagements that will contribute to the continued advancement of justice across the ECOWAS region.
