Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, Second Vice-President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has visited President Julius Maada Bio at State Lodge in Freetown as Sierra Leone hosts a high-level regional seminar on cooperation with the Court.

President Bio disclosed the meeting in a statement, saying he received Judge Alapini-Gansou and her delegation at State Lodge.

According to the President, Sierra Leone is hosting the ICC High-Level Regional Seminar on Cooperation and Complementarity with the Court for the first time.

Bio reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to supporting the ICC in its efforts to ensure accountability for individuals responsible for crimes against humanity.

The visit comes at a time when constitutional reform and proposed changes to Sierra Leone’s governance framework are among the issues attracting public attention.

The timing of the ICC delegation’s visit has prompted questions about the purpose and significance of its engagement with the country. However, no evidence has been presented to establish a link between the visit and Sierra Leone’s ongoing constitutional discussions.

The regional seminar focuses on cooperation and complementarity between national authorities and the ICC, principles that underpin the relationship between domestic justice systems and the international court.

Further details about the delegation’s engagements and the specific issues discussed during the meeting at State Lodge were not provided in the President’s statement.