Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, recently welcomed the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Ali Ibrahim Alheji, at his chambers at the Law Court Building in Freetown.
In his welcome address, the Honourable Chief Justice highlighted the longstanding and unique bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expressing hope that these ties would continue to strengthen for the benefit of both nations. He reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to upholding justice, emphasizing that it is key to maintaining peace, development, and national unity.
The Chief Justice also introduced other judges present at the meeting, noting that many of them are of the Muslim faith, which reflects Sierra Leone’s rich tradition of religious tolerance and integration. He informed the Ambassador about the Judiciary’s annual Assize Service which includes a Muslim service on Friday and a Christian service on Sunday. He also acknowledged the significant contributions of the Saudi Arabian government, particularly in infrastructure development and capacity building through the construction of mosques and the provision of academic scholarships to deserving individuals.
Supreme Court Judge, Hon. Justice Alusine Sesay, expressed his appreciation to the Ambassador for initiating the meeting, emphasizing that this was the first engagement between the Saudi Arabian Ambassador and the Judiciary. He highlighted the ongoing reforms within the Judiciary and called for support to address the institution’s many challenges.
In response, Ambassador Alheji assured the Judiciary of Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to collaborating with Sierra Leone to strengthen its justice sector. He proposed the development of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize the cooperation, with a technical team assigned to oversee its implementation. He also expressed gratitude for Sierra Leone’s support for Expo 2030 and the World Cup.
Court of Appeal Judges, Hon. Justices Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi, Tonia Barnett, and Momoh-Jah Stevens, who were also in attendance, emphasized the need for further support, particularly in areas such as information technology, solar power, and infrastructure.
In his closing remarks, the Honourable Chief Justice reiterated the Judiciary’s focus on digitization, infrastructure development, and the establishment of virtual court systems, in line with his vision of modernizing judicial operations. He assured the Ambassador that the Judiciary would work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to advance the proposed collaboration. He expressed optimism that the relationship between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia would continue to flourish, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s openness and liberalism.
