BY FATIMA KPAKA
Law Court Building, Freetown, 14th March 2025: Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, welcomed the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Ali Ibrahim Alheji, to his chambers at the Law Court Building in Freetown. The meeting highlighted the longstanding diplomatic ties between the two nations and explored avenues for enhancing collaboration in the justice sector.
In his opening remarks, Honourable Chief Justice Kamanda emphasized the unique and enduring bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia. He expressed optimism for continued cooperation that would benefit both nations while reaffirming the Judiciary’s commitment to justice as a cornerstone of peace, development, and national unity.
The Chief Justice also introduced the judges present at the meeting, noting that many of them practice the Muslim faith, which reflects Sierra Leone’s rich tradition of religious tolerance. He informed the Ambassador about the Judiciary’s annual Assize Service, which includes both Muslim and Christian observances, and lauded Saudi Arabia’s contributions to the nation, particularly in infrastructure development and education through the construction of mosques and the provision of academic scholarships.
Supreme Court Judge, Hon. Justice Alusine Sesay, expressed gratitude to Ambassador Alheji for initiating the historic meeting, noting it was the first engagement between the Saudi Arabian Ambassador and the Judiciary. He highlighted ongoing reforms within the Judiciary and sought Saudi Arabia’s support in addressing challenges faced by the institution.
In response, Ambassador Alheji reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s justice sector. He proposed formalizing cooperation through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and suggested assigning a technical team to oversee its implementation. The Ambassador also thanked Sierra Leone for its support of Saudi Arabia’s Expo 2030 bid and efforts related to the World Cup.
Court of Appeal Judges, Hon. Justices Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi, Tonia Barnett, and Momoh-Jah Stevens, also addressed the meeting, stressing the need for support in areas such as information technology, solar power, and infrastructure.
In his closing remarks, Chief Justice Kamanda outlined the Judiciary’s focus on modernizing operations through digitization, infrastructure enhancement, and virtual court systems. He assured the Ambassador of close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to advance the proposed partnership. The Chief Justice expressed optimism for the flourishing relationship between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia, commending the Kingdom’s openness and forward-looking approach.
The engagement serves as a significant step in deepening bilateral ties and fostering collaboration for the development of Sierra Leone’s justice sector.