As Sierra Leone is getting closer to yet another general elections and the whirlwind of ambitions as to who wants to be who in the two major political parties is sweeping roughly across the country’s political landscape.
The ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC), have both become arenas of jostling, backstabbing, and premature campaigning. From prominent ministers to silent power brokers, and from ex-presidential candidates to obscure regional loyalists, an overwhelming number of political figures are positioning themselves to take over the presidency. The question that lingers in the minds of ordinary Sierra Leoneans is simple yet profound: who among these aspirants is truly genuine? Or are they all just the same old sheep in wolf clothing?
The moment President Julius Maada Bio commenced his second and final term, an invisible starting gun fired within both SLPP and APC. What followed has been a flood of open and covert ambition. Within the SLPP, the Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has emerged as a potential successor, often surrounded by media attention and political choreography that point to calculated positioning. Meanwhile, some cabinet ministers, past and present, have begun subtly rallying their regional bases and exploiting their ministerial platforms as campaign launching pads.
In the APC, the shadow of Dr. Samura Kamara still looms wildly. Despite his legal battles and the burden of his past political baggage, he remains a popular figure among many grassroots supporters. However, his continued ambition has triggered resentment among younger APC members who believe his time has passed. They, too, are throwing their hats into the ring, emboldened by a growing hunger for generational change within the red camp.
Beyond these two giants, smaller parties and independent hopefuls are also emerging, each claiming to be the “new face” Sierra Leone needs. But in a country accustomed to recycled leaders, skepticism runs high.
Every aspiring leader is currently painting themselves as a savior, a reformist, or a visionary. Yet a closer examination reveals a disturbing pattern — many of these figures are either products or beneficiaries of the very system they claim to want to fix. They have served under corrupt administrations, enabled patronage politics, or remained silent in the face of injustice — only to now emerge with loud proclamations of change.
In the SLPP, for instance, some of the loudest voices calling for transformation have been silent over the failures of the Bio administration, from the economic decline to the botched “Feed Salone” project and the chronic education and healthcare issues. They now want to separate themselves from the administration’s legacy while still benefiting from its political machinery.
In the APC, aspirants tout themselves as the alternative, but many were key players in the very government that left Sierra Leone in economic ruin and institutional decay before 2018. What separates them from each other, then? The color of their campaign posters or the tribal lines they secretly exploit?
Sierra Leoneans have not forgotten the countless unfulfilled promises, the looting of state resources, the misuse of donor funds, and the rise in youth unemployment under both parties. Many voters are now asking: If these are the same people who failed yesterday, how can we trust them with our tomorrow?
A dangerous trend in Sierra Leone’s political environment is the rise of strategic rebranding. Former ministers now parade as “technocrats” or “progressives,” hoping the public will forget their track records. Some hire foreign media consultants, run flashy social media campaigns, or distribute rice and cash in their regions to win favor. But behind the façade lies the same old playbook: tribal loyalty, vote-buying, intimidation, and fake promises.
What’s even more troubling is that no leading aspirant — SLPP or APC — has yet presented a detailed policy framework for how they will tackle Sierra Leone’s deep-rooted issues: poverty, youth unemployment, energy crisis, rampant corruption, and judicial inefficiency. What the people hear instead is a mixture of empty slogans, populist speeches, and personality politics.
Despite decades of betrayal, Sierra Leoneans remain astonishingly patient — perhaps too patient. Citizens continue to hope for a messiah, someone who will rise above the noise and lead with vision, discipline, and integrity. But patience is now turning into cynicism. The younger generation, which constitutes the majority of the population, is increasingly disillusioned. Many no longer trust politicians, and voter apathy is growing.
Still, the hunger for genuine leadership is palpable. Sierra Leone doesn’t need another career politician with smooth speeches and shady backroom deals. It needs a leader who understands service over self, policy over personality, and long-term development over short-term gains.
At present, it’s hard to say. No aspirant, whether SLPP or APC, has convincingly stood out as both competent and incorruptible. The electorate must scrutinize them not by their words but by their records, their alliances, and their moral courage. Who among them spoke up during national crises? Who has a history of sacrificing personal gain for the public good? Who has resisted tribal politics and embraced inclusive governance?
If no such person emerges, Sierra Leone risks repeating the cycle — replacing one set of crooks with another, changing the paint on a broken building without fixing the foundation.
Sierra Leone still waits — not just for an election, but for transformation. Until genuine, principled, and visionary leadership rises from the rubble of recycled politics, the people must remain vigilant. They must challenge, question, and reject any leader whose ambition exceeds their integrity.
Let 2028 not be another coronation of deception. Let it be a turning point. But for that to happen, the people must stop settling for the lesser evil and start demanding the greater good.