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Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, joined international commercial arbitration experts at Herbert Smith Freehills to deliver a focused session on International Arbitration Practice to students of the Africa Arbitration Academy, using Sierra Leone’s mining sector reforms as a case study on investment promotion, investor confidence, and investment protection.
The session formed part of the Africa Arbitration Academy programme and brought together 30 legal practitioners from 25 African countries, representing both private practice and government counsel.
The forum combined theoretical instruction with practical insights, examining mining investment disputes to demonstrate how arbitration frameworks operate across jurisdictions and interact with national reform agendas.
During the session, Koroma and other panelists highlighted key reforms Sierra Leone has undertaken to strengthen investor confidence and improve investment protection in the mining sector. They noted that these reforms are part of broader efforts to modernize the sector, enhance transparency, and ensure mining contributes meaningfully to national development while aligning with international standards.
The practical experiences shared by the panel emphasized how legal reforms, supported by effective arbitration mechanisms, can make jurisdictions more attractive to responsible investors and help reduce prolonged disputes.
Koroma is expected to continue the week’s engagements with a town hall meeting alongside the Vice President and later participate in the Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference on Friday, where mining investment will again be a central focus.
These engagements form part of ongoing efforts to reach domestic and diaspora stakeholders, promote investment opportunities, and outline safeguards introduced in the sector.
The delegation also expressed appreciation to the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Hon. Julius Mattai, for his leadership in driving reforms in the mining sector, while also thanking President Julius Maada Bio and the people of Sierra Leone for the opportunity to serve.
The Herbert Smith Freehills session further highlighted Sierra Leone’s growing presence on international platforms as the country continues to position itself as a stable, transparent, and attractive destination for mining investment.
