By Musa Paul Feika
A concerned citizen, Dr. Alex Bangura, has raised serious concerns over the pace, transparency, and legal handling of the Tripartite Committee recommendations, warning that delays could undermine Sierra Leone’s democratic stability, peace, and long-term development.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday 16th April, 2026, in Freetown, Dr. Bangura noted that while public officials have highlighted progress in implementing the recommendations, uncertainty remains as to whether the proper constitutional procedures have been followed to give them full legal effect.
At the centre of his concerns are 80 key recommendations reportedly agreed upon under the Tripartite arrangement, along with an additional five to six proposals bringing the total to approximately 86.
According to him, these recommendations were expected to be laid before Parliament and, after a constitutionally mandated 21-day period, mature into law as a statutory instrument.
However, he observed that this process has yet to be completed.
“We are still waiting for Parliament to act. These recommendations were supposed to be laid and matured within a constitutional timeframe, but that has not yet happened,” he said.
Dr. Bangura further pointed out that a 72-hour ultimatum had earlier been issued regarding legislative action, yet no clear communication has emerged from the legislative arm of government. He argued that such delays raise broader concerns about the country’s democratic credentials.
“My concern is about democracy itself its credibility, its practice, and its future in Sierra Leone,” he stated.
He linked the issue directly to national stability, stressing that credible elections and transparent governance are indispensable for sustaining peace, security, and development. In his view, the implementation of the Tripartite recommendations is closely tied to the Agreement for National Unity and the broader goal of political cohesion.
Reflecting on the origins of the current political situation, Dr. Bangura said he has closely followed developments leading up to and after the June 24, 2023 elections. He recalled the announcement of results by Chief Electoral Commissioner Mohamed Kenewui Konneh, and the subsequent rejection of those results by the main opposition.
In response, he proposed what he described as a “sophisticated scheme” to audit the election results. “By a sophisticated scheme, I mean an independent, professional, and international mechanism capable of reviewing the entire electoral process from results forms to tallying procedures and statistical data,” he explained.
Dr. emphasized that such a process should involve neutral experts guided by international electoral standards, with the aim of ensuring impartiality, building public confidence, and addressing concerns raised by both political actors and citizens.
According to Dr. Bangura, the proposed audit would examine Results Forms (RFs), analyse disaggregated data, and assess the conduct of institutions and individuals involved in the electoral process. This would include Result Reconciliation Forms (RRFs) and other critical datasets, in line with the Agreement for National Unity and the Tripartite recommendations.
“All democracies are fragile; therefore, the need to create and maintain peace, is of the greatest importance,” he said.
Addressing recent claims by Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh that up to 90 percent or more of the recommendations have been implemented, Dr. Bangura responded cautiously, calling for greater transparency.
“If that is the case, then it should be evident. In law, we say res ipsa loquitur thing speaks for itself. The public should be able to see clear evidence of implementation,” he said.