By Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications Unit
Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards has participated in the Virtual Preparatory Meeting for Cairo’s Fifth High Level Meeting for the Chief Justices and Presidents of the African Constitutional Courts, Supreme Courts and Constitutional Councils.
The Cairo Conference of Chief Justices in Africa is fully funded by the Egyptian President, His Excellency President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi. The President’s aim is to promote justice in the continent and also strengthen cooperation between Egypt and other sister countries in Africa.
On Saturday, 20th February, 2021 the Supreme Constitutional Court of the Arab Republic of Egypt organised a virtual meeting and was attended by the Chief and Senior Justices of the Constitutional Courts, Supreme Courts, Constitutional Councils and Continental Courts from forty (40) African countries as well as a number of international observers.
During the meeting, the Egyptian President welcomed the honourable participants and recognised their respective support and full participation.
“It gives me pleasure today to greet you, the finest legal minds on the continent of Africa, at a time when preparations are underway to receive you again in Cairo soon,” said President Al-Sisi, adding that, “It is a tradition that we have established over the past five years to bring together the higher judicial bodies in Africa under one umbrella in Cairo. “
Among the many issues discussed were the main challenges confronted by the African Judiciary since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the role and future of ‘E-Justice and Digital Transformation.’
The participants affirmed the importance of enhancing cooperation between African countries and the international community in overcoming the immense challenges posed by the Covid-19 global pandemic.
The participants further agreed to enhance governmental efforts to advance digital transformation of the justice system in an effective and competent way. The importance of fighting terrorism and the crucial role African judiciaries played in combatting terrorism in all its forms were also discussed.
The 5th High Level Meeting for the Chief Justices is slated for June this year in Cairo. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the Arab Republic of Egypt House of Representatives who was the first person to host the African Chief Justices since 2017. Statements were also made by top dignitaries.
