Sierra Leone backs Phoebe Okowa for African ICJ seat
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Capital FM
Sierra Leone has withdrawn the candidacy of its jurist Charles Jalloh and is backing Phoebe Okowa, Kenya’s candidate for the remaining seat at the International Court of Justice. Okowa received 87 votes in the UN General Assembly, but only four in the Security Council in the second round, reports Capital FM.
Sierra Leone has withdrawn the candidacy of its jurist Charles Jalloh and is backing Phoebe Okowa, Kenya’s candidate for the remaining African seat at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Sierra Leonean representative to the UN announced on Tuesday. Freetown wants to avoid a division of African votes in the third round of voting organised by the General Assembly and the Security Council.
Phoebe Okowa received 87 votes in the UN General Assembly, but only four in the Security Council in the second round, while eight votes are needed in that 15-member body. She received six in the first round. The candidate must secure an absolute majority in both bodies to retain her seat at the ICJ for a nine-year term.
The Sierra Leonean representative said Africa’s representation at the ICJ should take precedence over national candidacies. He also highlighted Phoebe Okowa’s judicial and academic career as the first African woman elected to the International Law Commission.
