President Bio Departs Freetown For United Nations General Assembly, ICC Prosecutors’ Meeting

Sierra Leone's President, Julius Maada Bio, departed from Freetown on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, heading to New York, United States. His visit concerns his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly and in response to an invitation extended by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The 78th session of the UN General Assembly, themed 'Rebuilding trust and rekindling global solidarity: Advancing action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals for peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all,' commenced on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

The high-level General Debate is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, September 19, 2023. Heads of State and Government will convene at the UN Headquarters to assess the progress of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They will also provide high-level political guidance on transformative and expedited actions leading up to the 2030 target year for achieving these goals.

President Bio's itinerary in New York includes a meeting with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Asad Ahmad Khan KC. This invitation was extended to him in August, although the specifics of the meeting remain somewhat unclear. The ICC has expressed significant interest in this meeting and hopes to accommodate it.

Chernor Bah, Sierra Leone's Information Minister, explained that the ICC's invitation pertains to discussions about Sierra Leone's leadership regarding ICC matters and the country's role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Following the conclusion of the presidential elections on June 24, 2023, Sierra Leone has experienced a turbulent political situation, with the opposition All People's Congress (APC) boycotting governance in protest of alleged irregularities and violations of electoral procedures. The United States, represented by spokesperson Mathew Miller, also expressed concerns about irregularities in the election results announced by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL). In a statement dated July 24, the U.S. Department voiced unease over reports of threats, including those of a serious nature, directed at local and international observers, civil society groups, and election commission members.

As of the time of this report, it remains uncertain whether the ICC prosecutor's invitation is connected to the recent elections.