The Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone (RSCSL) has announced the election of new officers following the conclusion of its two-day plenary session held at The Hague, Netherlands. In a statement issued on February 27, 2026, the court confirmed that Justice Isaack Lenaola, a Supreme Court Judge of Kenya and the immediate past Vice President of the RSCSL, has been elected as its new President.
Justice Lenaola succeeds in this leadership role after serving at the court since 2013. His judicial career spans decades, including service in Kenya’s judiciary since 2003, where he rose to the Supreme Court, and prior roles as Presiding Judge of the Constitutional and Human Rights Division at the High Court in Nairobi. He also served as a judge and Deputy Principal Judge at the East African Court of Justice between 2011 and 2018.
Alongside Justice Lenaola’s election, Justice Andrew Hatton was elected Vice President, while Justice Tonia Barnett was elected Staff Appeals Judge. All officials will serve renewable two-year terms.
Key Deliberations at the Plenary
During the plenary, judges received briefings from the Registrar, Prosecutor, and Principal Defender. They deliberated on several critical issues, including:
- Proposed amendments to the court’s rules
- The draft stocktaking report
- Institutional funding
- Review of the 12th Annual Report, covering activities for 2025
Mandate of the RSCSL
The Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone was established to manage the remaining legal obligations of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Its responsibilities include:
- Supervision of sentences
- Witness protection
- Preservation of archives
- Support to national prosecution authorities
Profiles of Newly Elected Officials
- Justice Isaack Lenaola: Serving at the RSCSL since 2013, with a distinguished career in Kenya’s judiciary and the East African Court of Justice.
- Justice Andrew Hatton: A member of the RSCSL since 2013, with prior experience as an international criminal judge in Kosovo under the EULEX mission and as a Circuit Judge in the UK.
- Justice Tonia Barnett: Joined the RSCSL in 2021, with extensive judicial experience in Sierra Leone, including service as a magistrate for over a decade and as a Court of Appeal judge since 2020.
Conclusion
The election of Justice Lenaola as President marks a significant moment for the RSCSL as it continues to uphold justice and accountability in Sierra Leone’s post-conflict legacy. With renewed leadership, the court is poised to strengthen its mandate in safeguarding judicial processes, supporting national institutions, and preserving the historical record of its work.
