The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Asad Ahmad Khan KC, has expressed his wish to hold a meeting with Sierra Leone's President, Julius Maada Bio, during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York. This intention was confirmed by Sierra Leone's Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, through a message shared on Wednesday via Twitter.
Bah conveyed that the purpose of this forthcoming discussion is to engage in conversations regarding Sierra Leone's leadership in matters concerning the ICC, as well as the nation's role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Earlier on the preceding Tuesday, a communiqué allegedly originating from the International Court gained traction on social media, indicating President Bio's reception of an invitation. While the specific grounds for this invitation were not explicitly disclosed in the letter, the ICC did express the considerable significance it ascribed to the meeting and expressed optimism for its approval.
Sierra Leone has been grappling with a contentious political environment since the culmination of the presidential elections on June 24, 2023. The opposition party, All People's Congress (APC), chose to abstain from participating in governance activities, citing grievances over purported irregularities and infringements on electoral protocols.
Furthermore, the United States, communicated through spokesperson Mathew Miller, articulated reservations concerning the integrity of the election outcomes as proclaimed by Sierra Leone's Electoral Commission (ECSL). In a statement dated July 24, the department conveyed its apprehensions about reported instances of threats, some of which were of a severe nature. These threats were aimed at both local and international observers, civil society organizations, and members of the election commission.
Presently, it remains somewhat unclear whether the ICC prosecutor's invitation is linked to the recent electoral developments.