Sierra Leonean international law scholar and jurist, Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh, is heading into the November 3, 2026 election for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with significant regional and international backing, following endorsements from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and nominations by 13 countries from across the United Nations regional groups.
Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh has been presented as West Africa’s sole candidate for election to the ICJ, widely known as the World Court, in what is being viewed as an important opportunity for Sierra Leone, West Africa and the African continent to strengthen their representation within one of the world’s most important judicial institutions.
In July 2026, the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government endorsed Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh as the regional bloc’s sole candidate for the International Court of Justice. The African Union’s Ministerial Executive Council subsequently endorsed his candidacy during the same month.
His nomination by 13 States representing all United Nations regional groups has further strengthened his international credentials and demonstrated support extending beyond the African continent.
Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh currently holds the Richard A. Hausler Chair in Law at the University of Miami School of Law and has served as a member of the International Law Commission (ILC) since 2017.
During his tenure at the Commission, he has been elected by his peers to several leadership positions. He served as Chair of the Drafting Committee in 2018, General Rapporteur in 2019 and Second Vice-Chair in 2023. He has also served as Chair of the Working Group on Methods of Work and Procedures since 2023.
His professional background combines extensive academic scholarship with practical experience in international litigation. Trained in both Common Law and Civil Law traditions, Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh has appeared and acted as counsel in proceedings before major international judicial institutions, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), International Court of Justice and International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
His experience across different legal traditions is considered particularly relevant to the ICJ, whose Statute requires representation of the principal legal systems of the world.
Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh also serves as the International Law Commission’s Special Rapporteur on “Subsidiary Means for the Determination of Rules of International Law,” placing him among a relatively small number of African jurists who have served as Special Rapporteurs during the Commission’s nearly eight decades of existence.
His work in that capacity reached a major milestone in August 2026 when the International Law Commission completed the first reading of 13 draft conclusions and accompanying commentaries on the topic. The work contributes to ongoing efforts to clarify the sources, methodology and determination of rules of international law.
Beyond his role as Special Rapporteur, Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh has contributed extensively to the Commission’s broader programme of work, strengthening his profile as an experienced international lawyer with both scholarly and institutional expertise.
Supporters of his candidacy describe him as a globally respected international legal scholar capable of bringing independence, impartiality, integrity and extensive professional experience to the World Court.
The November 3 election is expected to carry particular significance for West Africa, with Professor Dr. Charles C.Jalloh’s candidacy offering the region an opportunity to once again secure representation on the bench of the International Court of Justice.
The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and plays a central role in resolving legal disputes between States and providing advisory opinions on questions of international law.
Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh’s candidacy therefore extends beyond Sierra Leone’s national aspirations. With the backing of ECOWAS and the African Union, his campaign represents a broader West African and continental effort to strengthen Africa’s contribution to international jurisprudence and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Attention will now turn to November 3, 2026, when the election will provide United Nations member states with the opportunity to determine the composition of the World Court and Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh’s bid to serve on its bench.
For Sierra Leone, his candidature represents a significant moment for the country’s international profile, while for West Africa his election would mark a return to representation from the region on the world’s highest international court.
