Meet the New Permanent Representative to United Nations 

President Julius Maada Bio has appointed Madam Michaela Barbara Eddinia Swallow as Sierra Leone’s Deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. 

Madam Swallow is a highly regarded Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone, possessing extensive expertise across various legal domains, including International Business and Commercial Law, Petroleum and Energy Law, Banking Law, Corporate Governance, and Financial Services.

Ms. Swallow commenced her career as a private legal practitioner at the esteemed Wright & Co. Law Firm. She later transitioned into the banking sector, taking on the role of Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary at Skye Bank SL Limited, a prominent commercial bank in West Africa.

Currently, Ms. Swallow serves as the Senior Legal Counsel for the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone, the regulatory body overseeing upstream oil and gas activities in the nation. In her capacity as Head of the Legal Department, she provides critical advice on legal compliance and regulatory matters, as well as expert opinions on contracts and legislative developments in Sierra Leone’s oil and gas industry.

In 2019, Ms. Swallow was elected to the General Legal Council, the governing body of the legal profession in Sierra Leone, where she fulfilled a three-year term. In 2021, the Chief Justice appointed her as a Notary Public and Commissioner of Oaths.

In 2022, she was appointed by H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, as a Member of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a constitutionally mandated body that advises the Chief Justice in administrative duties and appoints Judicial and Legal Officers. Ms. Swallow continues her service on this commission.

As the immediate past President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, serving from 2020 to 2024, Ms. Swallow made history as the first woman elected unopposed for two consecutive terms, following her unopposed election as Vice President in 2019.

Her presidency was marked by her commitment to enhancing the welfare of Bar Association members through initiatives such as legal training for ongoing professional development, promoting the rule of law, improving access to justice for women and girls, and providing pro bono legal support to juveniles in conflict with the law.

In collaboration with key stakeholders, she successfully launched the inaugural ICCA-certified Advocacy Trainer course for judges and senior lawyers, equipping them to become Advocacy Trainers for Legal Practitioners. Additionally, she established a committee of Indigenous legal advocacy trainers to promote continuous legal education in Sierra Leone.

Ms. Swallow has significantly influenced legal reforms in Sierra Leone through her dedicated advocacy and involvement. Her notable contributions include the abolition of the Death Penalty, the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, the enactment of the Sexual Offences Act 2019, and pivotal legislation such as the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act 2021 and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2022.

Her commitment to advancing women’s and girls’ rights in Sierra Leone is evident through the Swallow Foundation, a charitable organization she leads, which supports Women in Need (WIN) and Boys at Risk (BAR). Through this initiative, she provides free legal assistance and social counseling for vulnerable groups, including out-of-school boys and women who have faced abuse.

Ms. Swallow has played a vital role in fostering peace and stability in the nation. Ahead of the June 2023 multi-tier elections, she initiated a National Peace Pledge known as “The York Declaration,” which was endorsed by various election stakeholders, including political parties, civil society, and the international community, during the National Sierra Leone Bar Association Conference in February 2023. This declaration underscored a collective commitment to a peaceful electoral process.

This milestone further paved the way for the signing of the Commonwealth Peace Pledge by influential figures, including H.E. the President, Dr. Samura Kamara, and KC Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. Ms. Swallow served on the planning committee and led the drafting unit responsible for the National Peace Pledge.

Shortly afterward, she led a nationwide peace campaign, engaging communities across Kono, Kenema, Bo, Freetown, and Port Loko through town hall meetings to advocate for peace and a peaceful election.

During her tenure as Bar President, she also launched the “know-your-law” campaign, which aimed to educate citizens about legal frameworks, enhancing awareness of election laws among young people and grassroots communities and leading to a decrease in electoral offenses.

On Election Day, Ms. Swallow, along with over 50 senior lawyers, observed the elections nationwide. Their commitment resulted in a Bar Association Post-election Report highlighting the elections as the most peaceful in Sierra Leone’s history.

Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades, including the Nexte Lawyer of the Year Award, the National Women’s Forum Award, and the Top 50 Influential Women Award, among other honors.

On a continental scale, Ms. Swallow serves as an elected Governing Council Member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) and as the Country Representative for Sierra Leone at the International Bar Association (IBA). She is the former Chairperson of the West African Bar Association and has held the Vice Chair position on the Organizing Committee for the 2021 African Bar Association Conference in Niamey.

Outside her professional responsibilities, Ms. Swallow is dedicated to mentoring and supporting at-risk out-of-school youth through sponsorship and internship initiatives.

Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LLB) from the University of Sierra Leone, a Barrister at Law (B.L) from the Sierra Leone Law School, a Diploma in Mass Communications majoring in Public Relations, and a Master of Laws (LLM) with Distinction in International Commercial and Business Law from the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom.