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Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, recently welcomed His Excellency Ali Ibrahim Alheji, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, to his chambers at the Law Court Building in Freetown.
During their meeting, Chief Justice Kamanda spoke about the longstanding relationship between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia and expressed hopes for continued collaboration that would benefit both nations.
He discussed importance role of the judiciary in maintaining peace, development, and unity within the country.
The Chief Justice introduced several judges, pointing out that many are Muslim, which reflects Sierra Leone’s tradition of religious diversity. He also shared information about the annual Assize Service, which includes both Muslim and Christian services, showing the inclusive nature of Sierra Leone’s legal system. Kamanda acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s contributions, particularly in infrastructure and educational scholarships.
Supreme Court Judge Honourable Justice Alusine Sesay thanked Ambassador Alheji for arranging the meeting and noted that this was the first time the Saudi Ambassador had met with the Sierra Leone Judiciary. He also discussed ongoing judicial reforms and the need for continued support to address the challenges the system faces.
Ambassador Alheji assured the judiciary of Saudi Arabia’s continued support for Sierra Leone’s justice sector. He proposed creating a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize the cooperation, with a technical team assigned to manage its implementation. Alheji also expressed gratitude for Sierra Leone’s backing of Saudi Arabia’s Expo 2030 and World Cup bids.
Court of Appeal Judges Honourable Justices Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi, Tonia Barnett, and Momoh-Jah Stevens, who were also present, discussed the need for additional support, especially in areas like IT, solar power, and infrastructure.
In closing, Chief Justice Kamanda spoke about his focus on modernizing the judiciary, including plans to digitize processes and introduce virtual court systems. He reassured Ambassador Alheji that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation would work with the judiciary to move forward with the proposed initiatives.
