By: Usman Fambuleh
In a groundbreaking achievement for legal education in Sierra Leone, IMATT College has become the first university in the country to participate in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot.
The global competition, widely known as the “Vis Moot,” brings together law students from across the world to foster the study and practice of international commercial sales law and arbitration. This year alone, students from over 80 countries are participating, placing IMATT College firmly on the international legal stage.
The Willem C. Vis Moot focuses on disputes arising from international commercial sales contracts governed by the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). The dispute is resolved through arbitration in a fictional country that has adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and is a party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.
The competition is designed to provide practical legal training. Students draft written memoranda for both claimant and respondent, and later present oral arguments before panels of seasoned arbitration practitioners and academics from both civil law and common law backgrounds.
IMATT College’s participation signals a major leap forward for legal scholarship in Sierra Leone. It demonstrates the institution’s commitment to producing globally competitive lawyers equipped to handle cross-border commercial disputes.
Representing Sierra Leone on this international platform is a dynamic team of four law students:
• Cecilia Alice Sesay
• Gustavus Cilmond Betts
• Mariama Bah
• Alhassana Sow
The team is guided and coached by an accomplished panel of mentors: Mohamed Wurie Bah, Maurici Monguet Sanguino, Sofia Saltynska, and Albert Macharia, whose expertise in international arbitration and advocacy has been instrumental in preparing the students for the rigorous competition.
The IMATT College Vis Moot team is driven by more than participation. Their mission is to empower a new generation of African advocates to shape the future of international arbitration.
Through months of intensive research, drafting, and advocacy training, the team seeks to elevate African voices and perspectives within global dispute resolution. They view the competition as a transformative platform—one that not only sharpens their legal skills but also opens doors for future Sierra Leonean students to engage in international legal discourse.
By stepping into this arena, IMATT College is forging a legacy. The team aims to inspire future cohorts, build a culture of mooting excellence, and position Sierra Leone as an emerging contributor to international commercial law.
This historic milestone underscores IMATT College’s growing reputation as a center for legal excellence. As the first Sierra Leonean institution to compete in the Vis Moot, the College has placed the nation’s legal education system in the global spotlight.
Their participation is not merely symbolic; it is a bold declaration that Sierra Leonean students are ready to compete, excel, and lead on the world stage.
As the IMATT College Vis Moot Team steps forward, they carry with them the hopes of a nation and the promise of a new era in international legal advocacy.
Sierra Leone is watching, and history is being made.
