His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio on Tuesday 19th September, 2023 received the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Karim Khan KC, to discuss Sierra Leone’s leadership at the ICC and the country’s tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Prosecutor Khan called for the excellent partnership between Sierra Leone and the ICC to be strengthened. This includes calling on Sierra Leone to assume leadership of the African members of the UN Security Council (A3) on accountability and ICC matters.

Prosecutor Khan noted that Sierra Leone has many things to be proud of, including its commitment to the rule of law.

During the meeting, President Bio reiterated Sierra Leone’s commitment to promoting accountability and human rights protection during the country’s tenure at the Security Council.

The President also emphasized his Government’s readiness to continue Sierra Leone’s leadership role in supporting the effectiveness of the ICC as it continues to operate within its mandates and with constituency.

“I expressed our readiness to work with the ICC during our tenure at the Security Council to advance priorities to help build a just, safe and secure world.

The successful engagement between President Bio and the ICC Prosecutor will finally lay to rest claims by the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) that the ICC’s invitation was meant to indict President Bio for crimes against humanity.

An anti-government newspaper even suggested that the President would not return to Sierra Leone after the UNGA78 because he would be arrested and indicted by ICC in the United States of America (USA).