Attorney General Calls for Equal Application of International Criminal Justice
By Abu Bakarr Thaimu Sesay
Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, has called for the equal application of international criminal justice, urging states to strengthen cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), reinforce national judicial systems and ensure that perpetrators of the gravest crimes under international law are held accountable regardless of their nationality or official position.
He made the call on Thursday 22nd October, 2026 while delivering his opening remarks at a two-day seminar on the theme, “The International Criminal Court and National Jurisdictions: A Partnership in Fighting Impunity for the Gravest Crimes under International Law,” at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown. The seminar is organised by the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the ICC.
Mr. Sesay recalled the atrocities committed during Sierra Leone’s civil war in the 1990s, including the mutilation of civilians, the recruitment of children as soldiers and the abduction of women and girls who were subjected to forced marriages. He said Sierra Leone chose accountability after the 1999 Lomé Peace Agreement by seeking United Nations assistance, leading to the establishment of the Special Court for Sierra Leone in 2002.
He highlighted the Special Court’s contribution to international criminal law, particularly its landmark decisions concerning the recruitment and use of child soldiers, forced marriage as a crime against humanity and the prosecution of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. He stressed that Sierra Leone had played an active role in advancing international justice rather than merely benefiting from an institution established by outsiders.
The Attorney General recalled that Sierra Leone ratified the Rome Statute in September 2000, describing the ICC as a treaty based institution created by sovereign states. He urged countries to defend the principles underpinning the Court, particularly at a time when it faces external pressure, and argued that the principles of accountability that served victims in Sierra Leone should not be abandoned elsewhere.
Mr. Sesay identified cooperation and complementarity as essential to fighting impunity. He said cooperation must be grounded in law, not goodwill, noting that Part 9 of the Rome Statute requires states parties to cooperate fully with the ICC and establish procedures under their national laws to facilitate such cooperation.
He disclosed that his ministry is reviewing Sierra Leone’s legal framework to clarify procedures for responding to ICC requests involving arrests, the surrender of suspects, the provision of evidence, and the preservation of assets. He encouraged other countries to review their laws to prevent administrative and legal gaps from obstructing international investigations and prosecutions.
He also warned that sanctions against the ICC could affect its operations by making financial institutions cautious and suppliers reluctant to provide services. Such restrictions, he said, could also undermine the work of the Trust Fund for Victims and its ability to provide reparations. He called on state parties and regional organisations to explore practical ways of maintaining the financial and operational channels needed to support international justice.
On complementarity, Mr. Sesay stressed that national courts bear the primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting serious international crimes, while the ICC serves as a court of last resort. He argued that strengthening domestic judicial systems would reduce the burden on the ICC and help protect international justice from external political pressure.
“Every case our national court can try fairly is a case that need not go to the Hague,” he said.
He cited The Gambia’s efforts to establish a special tribunal and Liberia’s steps towards creating a war crimes court as examples of regional accountability initiatives. He also pledged Sierra Leone’s readiness to share lessons from the Special Court for Sierra Leone, including its achievements and shortcomings, with other countries seeking to strengthen their justice systems.
Addressing withdrawals from the Rome Statute, Mr. Sesay acknowledged that Article 127 provides for a state’s withdrawal but stressed the importance of respecting obligations that remain applicable and recognising the continuing needs of victims. He urged participants to assess international justice by its practical impact on people who suffered atrocities, including those who lost limbs, children affected by conflict, and families who lost their homes in Kono, Kailahun and Freetown.
He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to cooperating with the ICC in accordance with the law and strengthening its own courts so that the international court would be needed less often. He further said Sierra Leone would use the forthcoming Assembly of States Parties in December to advocate for a system of justice that applies the same law to all.
Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou, Second Vice President of the ICC, warned that sanctions and political pressure targeting the Court threatened its independence and ability to fulfill its mandate. She said the Court’s judges, prosecutors, and staff remained committed to their work and stressed that international justice must continue to serve victims and uphold the rule of law. She also highlighted Africa’s contribution to the Rome Statute system and called for constructive dialogue rather than political pressure.
Abdoul Aziz Mbaye, ICC International Cooperation Adviser, speaking on behalf of Acting Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, said the Court depended on states to collect evidence, interview witnesses and arrest suspects because it had no police force of its own. He emphasised that national jurisdictions have primary responsibility for prosecuting serious international crimes and that the ICC may intervene when states are unwilling or unable genuinely to act.
Dawda A. Jallow, The Gambia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, described complementarity as a shared responsibility requiring states to strengthen domestic laws, judicial institutions, and witness protection systems. He outlined The Gambia’s efforts to pursue accountability for past abuses and called for stronger regional cooperation, reliable assistance to the ICC and consistent application of international law regardless of nationality or political position.
Mohamed Ould Soueidatt, Mauritania’s Minister of Justice, said the fight against impunity required strong national institutions and effective international cooperation. Although Mauritania is not a party to the Rome Statute, he highlighted a 2014 cooperation framework with the ICC and outlined judicial reforms aimed at improving the independence, effectiveness and professional capacity of the country’s justice system.
Emilio Rosseetti, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the ICC and the Rome Statute system. He highlighted the historical contribution of the Special Court for Sierra Leone to international criminal law and said the EU would continue providing political, diplomatic, financial and practical support to protect the Court’s independence and effective functioning.
Ibrahim Sorie Yillah, a member of the Board of Directors of the ICC Trust Fund for Victims, stressed that accountability must extend beyond convictions to include reparations for victims. He highlighted the Trust Fund’s work supporting victims of international crimes and called for sustainable funding, noting that reparations help restore dignity and build confidence in justice institutions.
The two-day seminar brings together senior ICC officials, African government representatives, the European Union and other stakeholders to discuss ways of improving cooperation between international and national jurisdictions, strengthening domestic justice systems and ensuring that victims of the gravest crimes receive meaningful redress.
