Prof Phoebe Okowa has secured Sierra Leone’s support for her ICJ candidature.
Sierra Leone has dropped Prof Charles Jalloh’s candidature to rally African support behind Okowa ahead of a third round of UN voting.
Sierra Leone has withdrawn its International Court of Justice candidate and endorsed Kenya’s Prof Phoebe Okowa. The move aims to unite African support as voting continues for the remaining seat.
Okowa secured 87 votes in the United Nations General Assembly during the second ballot. However, she received only four votes in the Security Council, below the eight needed there.
The two UN bodies are now proceeding to a third round of voting. Candidates must secure an absolute majority in both organs to win election to the court.
Sierra Leone rallies support for Phoebe Okowa
Announcing the decision, Sierra Leone’s UN representative said the government had withdrawn Prof Charles Jalloh’s candidature. Instead, the country would give its full backing to the Kenyan candidate.
The envoy warned that divided African votes could cost the continent the remaining seat. That outcome, the representative argued, would further weaken Africa’s already inadequate representation on the court.
Sierra Leone therefore placed continental representation ahead of its own candidate’s ambitions, the envoy told the General Assembly. The representative also highlighted Okowa’s judicial and academic credentials in explaining the endorsement.
Among those credentials, the envoy noted, Okowa became the first African woman elected to the International Law Commission. Sierra Leone cited that achievement as part of its case for supporting her bid.
Third ballot follows split support in UN bodies
Meanwhile, Okowa’s Security Council support fell from six votes in the first round to four in the second. She had obtained an absolute majority in the General Assembly during the opening ballot.
The election involves the 193-member General Assembly and the 15-member Security Council. Four candidates secured the required majorities in both bodies during the first round.
They were Dapo Akande of the United Kingdom, François Alabrune of France, Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud of Jordan and Rena Lee of Singapore.
Kenya has also mounted an extensive diplomatic campaign for Okowa. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said months of engagement culminated in a final appeal in New York.
Sing’Oei said Kenya had emphasised her qualifications and experience for the role. The election covers five seats whose current terms end on February 5, 2027. Successful candidates will begin nine-year terms the following day.
