The Hague, Netherlands- Today, 26th February, the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone (RSCSL) formally integrated Chief Justice Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda and Justice Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi into its judicial roster. The proceedings, conducted in The Hague, followed the protocols established under Rule 14A of the Court’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence. Both jurists provided a formal declaration before President Justice Richard Lussick, committing to an impartial discharge of duties.
During the ceremony, Justice Lussick observed that “these appointments provide the Court with a stable foundation of expertise, as both judges have spent over twenty years navigating the complexities of the Sierra Leonean judiciary. Their backgrounds suggest a deep understanding of the socio-legal context of the cases under the court’s jurisdiction, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of the judicial process in a post-conflict legacy framework”.
Representing the State, Deputy Ambassador Mrs Asmaa James acknowledged that ”
the Government of Sierra Leone views this as a practical application of our domestic expertise to an international mandate, ensuring the Court remains functional and effective. The knowledge these judges possess is an asset that the Residual Special Court will now be able to employ in its daily operations.”
The Residual Court was established in 2013 to address the “post-closure” legal requirements of the Special Court. Created through a joint agreement between the UN and Sierra Leone, the residual mechanism serves as the permanent custodian of the court’s ongoing judicial mandates.
