Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone
Public Information
PRESS RELEASE
The Hague, the Netherlands, 6 January 2023
Statement by RSCSL President Pierre Boutet on the Death of Justice Elizabeth Ibanda-Nahamya
Justice Pierre Boutet, on behalf of the Oversight Committee, the Judges, principals and
staff of the Residual Special Court, has expressed sadness over of the death of Justice
Elizabeth Ibanda-Nahamya. She passed away yesterday at the HMC Antoniushove
Hospital in The Hague.
“It is with profound sadness that I learned of the death of Justice Ibanda-Nahamya,”
Justice Boutet said. He recalled her as a “humane and dedicated judge,” and as a jurist
who, as Principal Defender at the Special Court, had ensured that the rights of the accused
were upheld.
Registrar Binta Mansaray called Justice Ibanda-Nahaya a “thoughtful and fair judge” who
made significant contributions to the development of international justice.
Justice Ibamnda-Nahamya was appointed as a Judge of the Residual Special Court in 2013 by the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations. She served as vice president of the RSCSL from 2016 to 2018. While continuing to
serve on the RSCSL’s Roster of Judges, she was also appointed in 2018 by the UN Secretary-General as a Judge of
the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT).
Justice Ibamda-Nahamya served as Principal Defender of the Special Court in 2008, and as Deputy Principal
Defender for four years prior. Prior to joining the Special Court, she worked for eight years as a Legal Officer with
the Chambers Division of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
#END
The Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone is responsible for the ongoing legal obligations of the Special Court for Sierra
Leone, which concluded its mandate in December 2013. These include supervision of prison sentences, witness protection and
support, maintenance and preservation of the archives, and assistance to national prosecution authorities.
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Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone
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