Sierra Leone’s drive to strengthen domestic revenue mobilization and improve fiscal management received renewed attention on Thursday, August 20, 2026, when Parliament approved Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo as the country’s new Minister of Finance. His approval was accompanied by bipartisan appeals for the Government to support the proposed Kent seaport as part of efforts to ease pressure on the existing port facility and stimulate national economic growth.

Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo replaces Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura and assumes responsibility for the Ministry of Finance at a critical period when the Government is seeking to increase domestic revenue, reduce financial leakages, control expenditure and protect public resources.

The approval followed the presentation of President Julius Maada Bio’s nominees by the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, who also serves as Chairman of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service.

Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma informed the House that the Committee had thoroughly vetted the nominees and was satisfied with their qualifications, professional experience and suitability for their respective appointments. He subsequently moved a motion requesting Parliament to approve the Committee’s recommendations.

The sitting was presided over by Acting Speaker Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh and attended by senior Government officials, high-ranking officers of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, relatives, friends, supporters and other dignitaries.

A loud and prolonged round of applause filled the Chamber when Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma announced the name of Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo before outlining his professional profile. Members of Parliament who contributed to the debate described his appointment as timely and expressed confidence in his ability to manage the country’s financial affairs.

Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo is a Certified Public Accountant, financial expert and retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces. His professional career spans finance, auditing, management, corporate governance, public administration and international diplomacy.

He previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Before his appointment as Finance Minister, he was Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation.

He also served as Financial Controller in the Accounting Department of the Petroleum Directorate from August 2011 to January 2016.

Academically, Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo holds a Master of Business Administration in International Finance and Management, with Management and Entrepreneurship, from American University in Washington, D.C. He has also undertaken further studies at the Wharton School of Business.

During his vetting by the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo reportedly demonstrated an understanding of the importance of his new responsibility and the expectations attached to the timing of his appointment.

“I am aware of the timing of my appointment and the legacy President Julius Maada Bio wants to leave,” he was quoted as telling the Committee.

The new Finance Minister acknowledged the contribution of his predecessor, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, whom he credited with leaving the Ministry on a solid foundation. He pledged to build on the progress already made instead of starting afresh.

Strengthening domestic revenue mobilization will be among his main priorities. Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo said he would work closely with the National Revenue Authority to accelerate revenue collection and introduce stronger measures to reduce financial leakages through digitalization.

He also intends to fast-track the rollout of 10,000 electronic machines to improve the collection of Goods and Services Tax. He emphasized that revenue targets must be based on reliable data to enable the Ministry to determine how those targets were established and whether they were being achieved.

Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo further proposed entering into a performance contract with the National Revenue Authority. The agreement would be supported by measurable performance indicators through which the Ministry could objectively assess the Authority’s revenue-collection results.

Contributing to the parliamentary debate, Leader of the Opposition Hon. Abdul Kargbo expressed confidence in the new Minister’s ability to succeed and assured him of Parliament’s cooperation.

He acknowledged the difficulties involved in generating sufficient revenue to finance the operations of the State, but said his interaction with Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo had strengthened his confidence in the Minister’s competence.

Hon. Abdul Kargbo also called on the new Finance Minister and the Government to support the seaport being constructed at Kent by the Gento Group of Companies. He said the country’s existing quay was congested and overcrowded, making additional port infrastructure increasingly necessary.

“It is important that we boost the Kent project because the need is there,” he stated.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Daniel Koroma, made a similar appeal, urging the Finance Minister to give serious consideration to the project because of the operational challenges affecting the country’s existing ports.

Another lawmaker recounted an experience at the Cline Town Port, where severe congestion reportedly forced him to leave his vehicle at the facility until the following day. He said the incident demonstrated the need to expand Sierra Leone’s port capacity and improve the movement of goods.

In his concluding remarks, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma said the success of the Minister’s revenue mobilization agenda would depend considerably on effective collaboration with the Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority, Abu Martin Kanneh. He also encouraged the Minister to exercise discipline and prudence in public expenditure.

Parliament subsequently approved the Committee’s recommendations, formally clearing Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo to assume leadership of the Ministry of Finance.

Outside Parliament, more than 1,000 supporters, many dressed in traditional Limba attire, reportedly gathered around Model Junction, Tower Hill and adjoining streets to celebrate his approval. The crowd displayed appreciation banners, performed traditional dances and expressed support for President Julius Maada Bio and his Government.

Alhaji Mohamed Gento Kamara, Chief Executive Officer of the Gento Group, was among those who joined the celebrations.

The parliamentary approval now places Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo at the centre of the Government’s efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline, increase domestic revenue, support productive investment and improve the overall management of Sierra Leone’s economy.

  https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/63713

 

Caritas Freetown, with financial support from Trócaire, has conducted a two-day training and simulation exercise aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness, risk mapping and emergency-response capacity in vulnerable communities across Western Area Urban.

The exercise, held on August 17 and 18, 2026, formed part of a project titled: “Strengthening Community Disaster Preparedness, Flood Mitigation, Climate Resilience and Emergency Response Systems in Vulnerable Communities of Western Area Urban, Sierra Leone.”

A total of 45 people participated in the programme, including 30 members of Community Disaster Management Committees from Bottom Oku, Moa Wharf and Moyiba, as well as 15 Caritas Freetown project staff and volunteers.

The initiative was designed to improve participants’ understanding of disaster risks, hazards and vulnerabilities while strengthening community preparedness, early-warning mechanisms and basic emergency-response skills. It also promoted coordinated and inclusive action before, during and after disasters.

The first day of the training, held at St.Edwards Compound in Kingtom on August 17, focused on disaster preparedness, community risk mapping and first aid. Facilitators adopted a participatory approach that allowed participants to share their experiences and apply their knowledge of conditions within their respective communities.

Chairman of the Community Disaster Management Committee National Secretariat, Daniel Bob Jones, facilitated the opening session, which examined communities’ social memory of disasters, available emergency responders and preferred communication channels.

Participants reflected on major disasters and hazards that affected their communities between 2016 and 2026. Flooding, mudslides and fire outbreaks were identified among the most common emergencies experienced during the period.

The discussion demonstrated that residents possess valuable knowledge about the threats facing their communities. Facilitators stressed that such knowledge should serve as a foundation for effective disaster-preparedness planning, early-warning systems and community-led mitigation measures.

A second session, facilitated by Madam Philomena of the National Disaster Management Agency, introduced participants to important concepts associated with disaster-risk reduction. Those included hazards, risks, vulnerability, capacity, mitigation, preparedness and resilience.

Participants examined how hazards interact with existing community vulnerabilities and available capacities to determine the severity and potential consequences of a disaster.

They were also guided through the process of identifying hazard-prone areas, vulnerable people, available community resources, early-warning signs, safe locations and important public facilities. Particular attention was given to locations requiring urgent mitigation or preparedness interventions.

Paul Kargbo of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society facilitated the final session of the first day, which focused on the principles and practice of first aid in disaster management.

Participants learned how to provide immediate assistance to injured or critically affected people while awaiting professional medical support. The session covered emergencies including fires, drowning, road accidents and other incidents that frequently occur within communities.

Practical demonstrations and interactive discussions provided participants with an opportunity to ask questions, share personal experiences and improve their understanding of first aid as an important component of community-level emergency response.

The second day of the training, held at Kolleh Town on August 18, built on the knowledge acquired during the opening sessions. It placed greater emphasis on practical disaster response, emergency safety, first aid, rescue preparedness and community risk identification.

Addressing participants, Daniel Bob Jones emphasized that disaster preparedness must begin before an emergency occurs. He encouraged Community Disaster Management Committee members to continuously identify threats, educate residents and support measures aimed at reducing vulnerabilities.

He urged communities to keep roads and pathways accessible, identify alternative routes for emergency responders and work collectively to address conditions that increase the risk of flooding and other disasters.

Participants also discussed rescue preparedness and the importance of providing trained community volunteers with basic equipment such as ropes, gloves, headlamps, cutters and hammers.

Facilitators, however, warned that volunteers must prioritize their own safety and understand how to use rescue equipment properly. Community responders were also encouraged to recognize situations that require the intervention of professionally trained emergency personnel.

First aid remained a major component of the second day’s activities. A representative of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society conducted another practical session that enabled participants to explore how immediate assistance could be provided safely during emergencies before professional medical services arrive.

The risk-mapping exercise continued, with participants identifying flooding, fire outbreaks, blocked drainage systems, unsafe buildings and poor roads as some of the major hazards affecting their communities.

They also mapped essential community resources and facilities, including hospitals, health centres, schools, markets, roads, open spaces, water sources and communication facilities. Those resources are expected to support preparedness planning, evacuation and emergency coordination.

Simulation exercises allowed Community Disaster Management Committee members to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training. Participants are expected to continue using those skills during planned community risk-mapping exercises in Bottom Oku, Moa Wharf and Moyiba.

The upcoming activities will involve residents in identifying hazards, vulnerable areas, available resources and essential facilities within their respective communities.

The programme concluded with a call for participants to transform the knowledge acquired into practical and sustainable community action.

Caritas Freetown stressed that disaster preparedness is a shared responsibility requiring the participation of Government institutions, humanitarian organisations, local authorities, community leaders, disaster management committees, volunteers and residents.

Caritas Freetown and Trócaire believe that strengthening Community Disaster Management Committees and equipping local volunteers with practical skills will improve their ability to prevent and mitigate disaster risks. The intervention is also expected to enhance their capacity to serve as effective first responders when emergencies occur. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/63710

 

The Ministry of Health has recorded a significant breakthrough in Sierra Leone’s healthcare system by commencing the first-ever local production of essential infection prevention and control supplies for Government hospitals and health facilities nationwide.

The initiative was announced on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Youyi Building in Freetown as part of the Ministry’s 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero campaign.

Implemented under the leadership of the Minister of Health and spearheaded by the Ministry’s National Infection Prevention and Control Programme, the initiative seeks to strengthen hygiene standards and reduce infections that contribute to maternal and child deaths.

The Triple Zero campaign focuses on achieving zero maternal deaths, zero child deaths and zero zero-dose children; children who have not received any routine vaccinations.

Through the new local production initiative, the Ministry is manufacturing liquid soap, hand sanitizer and liquid detergent for distribution to public healthcare facilities across the country.

The liquid soap will promote regular handwashing among healthcare workers, patients and visitors, while the hand sanitizer will support hand hygiene where soap and water may not be immediately available. The liquid detergent will be used to clean healthcare environments, surfaces and medical equipment.

Programme Manager of the National Infection Prevention and Control Programme, Nanah Fofanah, said infections remain a major contributor to maternal and child deaths, especially when they develop into sepsis.

She explained that strengthening infection prevention and control practices in hospitals and other health facilities is essential to reducing avoidable infections, protecting healthcare workers and improving patient safety.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body responds severely to an infection. Pregnant women, newborn babies, young children and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to the condition.

The Ministry believes that ensuring a reliable supply of locally produced hygiene materials will help healthcare facilities maintain cleaner environments and promote consistent infection prevention practices.

Local production is also expected to reduce dependence on imported supplies, minimize shortages and improve timely access to essential hygiene materials throughout the public healthcare system.

The initiative represents another important step in the Government’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery and prevent avoidable maternal and child deaths in Sierra Leone.

The Ministry of Health has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding infection prevention measures and ensuring that hospitals and health facilities nationwide receive the supplies needed to maintain safe and hygienic environments. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/63707

 

The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) have clarified that JM Mining Kenema (SL) Limited never obtained a Large-Scale Mining Licence in Sierra Leone, rejecting claims that such a licence was revoked or withdrawn by the Government.

According to a joint statement issued by the two institutions on August 5, 2026, JM Mining received only a conditional offer of mineral rights, which required the company to formally accept the offer and pay the prescribed statutory fees before a licence could be issued.

The Government said the conditional offer eventually lapsed after the company failed to meet the legal and financial requirements within the prescribed period, despite being granted several opportunities to comply.

The statement explained that JM Mining received the conditional offer on January 23, 2025, following a recommendation by the Minerals Advisory Board and approval by the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources.

Under Section 108(5) of the Mines and Minerals Development Act, an applicant must accept a conditional offer in writing and settle all prescribed statutory fees before a mining licence can be granted.

“A conditional offer is not a licence,” the Government stressed, maintaining that no licence could have been revoked because none had been issued to the company.

The Ministry and NMA said the Government provided substantial institutional support to JM Mining throughout the application process. That assistance reportedly included intervention by the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources to help resolve an earlier dispute between the company and the Environment Protection Agency.

The NMA also provided guidance to assist the company in meeting the requirements for an environmental licence and the proposed mineral right.

According to the statement, the NMA delayed issuing the statutory payment demand for approximately six months at the company’s request, allowing it additional time to secure financing.

Official Orders to Pay were eventually issued on July 24, 2025, requiring JM Mining to pay US$1 million in licence fees and US$100,000 in monitoring fees within 30 days.

The initial payment deadline expired on August 23, 2025, without the required fees being paid.

Following a formal payment demand from the National Revenue Authority on October 28, 2025, the company reportedly requested an extension until December 31, 2025. The Government said that deadline also passed without payment.

JM Mining subsequently requested a new Order to Pay on January 29, 2026, acknowledging that the earlier payment obligations had not been fulfilled.

On January 30, 2026, the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources formally confirmed that the conditional offer had lapsed and rescinded it. The Government noted that this decision came 372 days after the offer was approved and 190 days after the payment orders were issued—well beyond the statutory payment period.

The Ministry and NMA further disclosed that JM Mining admitted its payment default in three separate written communications.

The company reportedly acknowledged the outstanding licence and monitoring fees in a letter to the Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority on October 31, 2025. Similar admissions were made to the Director of Mines on January 15 and January 29, 2026.

The Government rejected suggestions that its handling of the matter was arbitrary or hostile to foreign investment. It said the process was reviewed by the Minerals Advisory Board and conducted in accordance with the Mines and Minerals Development Act, with all relevant decisions supported by official records.

According to the statement, waiving US$1.1 million in statutory fees for a single applicant would undermine regulatory integrity, weaken equal treatment and disadvantage mining operators that have complied with the country’s licensing requirements.

The Government reaffirmed its commitment to welcoming responsible local and foreign investment in Sierra Leone’s mineral sector while insisting that every investor must fulfil the same legal and financial obligations.

“Sierra Leone’s mineral resources belong to the people of Sierra Leone and will be entrusted only to those who meet their obligations under the law,” the joint statement concluded. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/63704

 

Legal practitioner Melron C. Nicol-Wilson Esq. has challenged the procedure used by Parliament to pass the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, arguing that the required two-thirds majority was not obtained during the parliamentary vote.

In a letter dated August 18, 2026, and addressed to the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, Melron C. Nicol-Wilson maintained that Parliament’s reported reliance on Section 91(1) of the 1991 Constitution was inappropriate for determining the voting threshold required to alter the country’s supreme law.

The letter, written under the name of Nicol-Wilson & Co., also known as Malaika Chambers, expressed what the law firm described as grave public-interest concerns over the proceedings conducted in Parliament on August 10, 2026.

The Bill seeks, among other changes, to amend Section 42(2)(e) of the Constitution by reducing the presidential electoral threshold from 55 per cent of valid votes cast to 50 per cent plus one.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson said his concerns were consistent with arguments advanced by other legal practitioners and jurists who have publicly questioned the procedure Parliament followed.

He also noted that members of the main opposition All People’s Congress withdrew from the parliamentary proceedings before the vote, except for two lawmakers who remained in the Chamber.

According to Melron C. Nicol-Wilson, the 1991 Constitution is Sierra Leone’s supreme law and remains binding on every state institution, including Parliament and the Office of the Speaker.

He argued that Parliament cannot use what he described as unlawful, abusive or extra-constitutional methods to alter the Constitution, warning that doing so would amount to an unconstitutional constitutional amendment.

The legal practitioner stressed that constitutional safeguards governing amendments are not matters of parliamentary convenience or internal procedure. Rather, he said, they are mandatory legal conditions that determine whether Parliament has validly exercised its authority to amend the Constitution.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson claimed that the Speaker wrongly directed Members of Parliament to apply Section 91(1) when voting on the Bill.

Section 91(1) provides that, except where the Constitution states otherwise, any question placed before Parliament should be determined by a majority of members present and voting.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson, however, contended that the provision applies to ordinary parliamentary decisions and not to constitutional amendments for which the Constitution establishes a separate and higher voting threshold.

He identified Section 108(2)(b) as the applicable provision for amending the non-entrenched clauses of the Constitution.

Section 108(2)(b) states that a Bill seeking to alter the Constitution cannot be passed unless it is supported during its second and third readings by the votes of not less than two-thirds of Members of Parliament.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson therefore argued that the constitutional threshold was not satisfied during the August 10 sitting and that the Bill could not have been validly passed under Section 91(1).

He explained that Section 91(1) refers specifically to members “present and voting,” while Section 108(2)(b) requires the support of “not less than two-thirds of the Members of Parliament.”

According to him, the framers’ decision to use different language in the two provisions means they were intended to establish different voting requirements.

He said there was no legal basis for inserting the words “present and voting” into Section 108(2)(b), as those words do not appear in the provision.

To support his argument, Melron C. Nicol-Wilson cited several judicial authorities, including R v Judge of the City of London Court, Alhaji Sam Sumana v Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Victor Foh, and the South African Constitutional Court decision in S v Zuma.

He argued that the decisions reinforce the legal principle that clear constitutional language must be respected and given its ordinary meaning.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson also invoked the Latin maxim generalia specialibus non derogant, which means that a specific legal provision takes precedence over a general one.

He described Section 91(1) as the general rule governing ordinary parliamentary voting and Section 108(2)(b) as the special rule governing constitutional amendments.

According to him, the special provision must prevail, particularly because Section 91(1) begins with the words, “Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution.”

He further argued that interpreting Section 108(2)(b) as requiring only two-thirds of members present would undermine the purpose of the constitutional safeguard.

Such an interpretation, he said, would cause the threshold for amending the Constitution to fluctuate depending on the number of lawmakers attending Parliament on a particular day.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson maintained that both the literal and purposive approaches to constitutional interpretation produce the same conclusion: the special two-thirds threshold under Section 108(2)(b) cannot be displaced by the general majority rule under Section 91(1).

The legal practitioner also questioned the Speaker’s reported reliance on Section 94(2) of the Constitution.

Section 94(2) states that decisions, orders or directions of Parliament, its committees or the Speaker concerning Parliament’s rules of procedure or the application and interpretation of those rules cannot be investigated by any court.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson argued that the provision does not grant constitutional immunity or infallibility to Parliament and the Speaker.

He said Section 94(2) protects decisions relating to Parliament’s internal rules but does not prevent the courts from examining whether Parliament complied with the Constitution when exercising its powers.

According to him, there is a fundamental difference between interpreting Parliament’s internal procedures and determining the proper meaning of a constitutional provision.

He maintained that a constitutional question does not become an internal parliamentary matter merely because it arose during proceedings in the House.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson cited APC and Others v Speaker and Others to support his position that parliamentary autonomy does not amount to parliamentary sovereignty.

He said Parliament and the Speaker remain subject to the Constitution because their respective powers and authority are derived from it.

“A decision of the Speaker cannot rewrite the Constitution from the Chair,” Melron C. Nicol-Wilson stated, adding that Section 94(2) cannot place such a decision above the Constitution.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson also addressed the Speaker’s stated intention to refer the controversy to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

He argued that if sufficient uncertainty existed over the correct interpretation of Sections 91(1) and 108(2)(b), the appropriate step would have been to obtain judicial clarification before Parliament proceeded with the vote.

According to him, a referral made after the vote cannot retrospectively correct an alleged failure to meet the constitutionally prescribed threshold.

He said the referral cannot provide votes that were not cast, alter the number of lawmakers against whom the voting threshold should have been calculated or cure an alleged failure to obtain the required majority.

“The constitutional requirement was either satisfied when the vote was taken or it was not,” Melron C. Nicol-Wilson stated.

He maintained that the issue should not be regarded as a minor procedural irregularity because it affects Parliament’s constitutional authority to pass the Bill.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson consequently described the decision to permit the Bill to proceed under the lesser threshold as unconstitutional. He further argued that the purported passage of the Bill was null, void and without legal effect.

The legal practitioner expressed confidence that whether the Supreme Court considers a referral for interpretation or an application seeking a declaration of invalidity, it should determine that Section 108(2)(b) cannot be displaced by Section 91(1).

He therefore urged the Supreme Court to declare the purported constitutional amendment invalid when the matter comes before it.

Melron C. Nicol-Wilson concluded the letter with the Latin expression Fiat justitia ruat caelum—“Let justice be done though the heavens fall.” https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/63701

 

Sierra Leonean international law scholar and jurist, Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh, is heading into the November 3, 2026 election for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with significant regional and international backing, following endorsements from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and nominations by 13 countries from across the United Nations regional groups.

Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh has been presented as West Africa’s sole candidate for election to the ICJ, widely known as the World Court, in what is being viewed as an important opportunity for Sierra Leone, West Africa and the African continent to strengthen their representation within one of the world’s most important judicial institutions.

In July 2026, the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government endorsed Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh as the regional bloc’s sole candidate for the International Court of Justice. The African Union’s Ministerial Executive Council subsequently endorsed his candidacy during the same month.

His nomination by 13 States representing all United Nations regional groups has further strengthened his international credentials and demonstrated support extending beyond the African continent.

Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh currently holds the Richard A. Hausler Chair in Law at the University of Miami School of Law and has served as a member of the International Law Commission (ILC) since 2017.

During his tenure at the Commission, he has been elected by his peers to several leadership positions. He served as Chair of the Drafting Committee in 2018, General Rapporteur in 2019 and Second Vice-Chair in 2023. He has also served as Chair of the Working Group on Methods of Work and Procedures since 2023.

His professional background combines extensive academic scholarship with practical experience in international litigation. Trained in both Common Law and Civil Law traditions, Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh has appeared and acted as counsel in proceedings before major international judicial institutions, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), International Court of Justice and International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

His experience across different legal traditions is considered particularly relevant to the ICJ, whose Statute requires representation of the principal legal systems of the world.

Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh also serves as the International Law Commission’s Special Rapporteur on “Subsidiary Means for the Determination of Rules of International Law,” placing him among a relatively small number of African jurists who have served as Special Rapporteurs during the Commission’s nearly eight decades of existence.

His work in that capacity reached a major milestone in August 2026 when the International Law Commission completed the first reading of 13 draft conclusions and accompanying commentaries on the topic. The work contributes to ongoing efforts to clarify the sources, methodology and determination of rules of international law.

Beyond his role as Special Rapporteur, Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh has contributed extensively to the Commission’s broader programme of work, strengthening his profile as an experienced international lawyer with both scholarly and institutional expertise.

Supporters of his candidacy describe him as a globally respected international legal scholar capable of bringing independence, impartiality, integrity and extensive professional experience to the World Court.

The November 3 election is expected to carry particular significance for West Africa, with Professor Dr. Charles C.Jalloh’s candidacy offering the region an opportunity to once again secure representation on the bench of the International Court of Justice.

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and plays a central role in resolving legal disputes between States and providing advisory opinions on questions of international law.

Professor Dr. Charles C.  Jalloh’s candidacy therefore extends beyond Sierra Leone’s national aspirations. With the backing of ECOWAS and the African Union, his campaign represents a broader West African and continental effort to strengthen Africa’s contribution to international jurisprudence and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Attention will now turn to November 3, 2026, when the election will provide United Nations member states with the opportunity to determine the composition of the World Court and Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh’s bid to serve on its bench.

For Sierra Leone, his candidature represents a significant moment for the country’s international profile, while for West Africa his election would mark a return to representation from the region on the world’s highest international court. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/63700

 

Sierra Leone’s security agencies have intensified their search for Umarr Sheriff and alleged international drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt organized drug trafficking networks operating across national borders.

Abdul Karim Will, Director of Strategic Communications at the Office of National Security (ONS), confirmed the search during AYV’s State of the Nation programme on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. The programme was hosted by journalist Umaru Fofana.

“We are officially looking for Umarr Sheriff, and we are also looking for Jos Leijdekkers in Sierra Leone,” Abdul Karim Will said.

He disclosed that Sierra Leonean security authorities had conducted joint operations with their Liberian counterparts, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in combating the movement and distribution of illegal drugs.

According to Abdul Karim Will, the prompt exchange of credible intelligence among security agencies is essential to identifying suspects, intercepting illegal shipments and dismantling the networks responsible for supplying drugs across borders.

“It is important that sensitive information is communicated promptly to help curtail the drug supply chain,” he stated.

Abdul Karim Will explained that international drug trafficking networks are often highly organized and possess the resources and expertise required to infiltrate institutions and exploit weaknesses in national security systems.

He, however, assured the public that Sierra Leone’s security architecture remains coordinated and prepared to respond effectively to such threats.

“These individuals are organized and know how to penetrate systems. That is why the ONS is equally organized and prepared to counter their activities,” he said.

The ONS Director of Strategic Communications appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could assist the authorities in locating the two individuals.

“I am calling on the public to assist us with information about the whereabouts of Jos Leijdekkers,” Abdul Karim Will said.

He further urged anyone with information regarding either suspect to contact the appropriate security authorities.

“If you have any information about Umarr Sheriff or Jos Leijdekkers, whom we are currently looking for, we encourage you to share that information with the relevant authorities,” he added.

The Office of National Security maintained that public cooperation, effective regional coordination and the timely sharing of intelligence remain essential to disrupting organized drug trafficking networks and protecting Sierra Leone from transnational criminal activities.

  https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/63697