By Musa Paul Feika
Will Sierra Leone hold general elections in 2028 as anticipated by both the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), or should the country’s next polls depend on the prior implementation of the Agreement for National Unity (ANU) and the Tripartite Committee’s electoral reform recommendations?
This question has reignited public debate following comments by political activist Dr. Alex Bangura, who argues that the focus should not simply be on the election date, but on whether the reforms agreed upon by both political parties have first been fully implemented.
Speaking during an interview in Freetown on Friday, 18 July 2026, Dr. Bangura said Sierra Leone’s political landscape continues to be shaped by the unresolved controversies surrounding the 24 June 2023 general elections, which culminated in the signing of the Agreement for National Unity between the Government and the APC.
According to him, concerns raised by international election observer missions, including the European Union Election Observation Mission, as well as domestic observer groups over the credibility of the declared presidential election results, led to the establishment of the Tripartite Committee to review Sierra Leone’s electoral framework.
Dr. Bangura explained that Resolution Three of the Agreement for National Unity established the Tripartite Committee with a mandate to examine electoral laws, electoral institutions, voting processes, results management, and other contentious electoral issues. The Committee subsequently produced 80 recommendations aimed at strengthening democratic governance and enhancing public confidence in future elections.
He argued that these recommendations were intended to be fully implemented before another national election is conducted.
“The issue is not simply whether there will be an election in 2028,” Dr. Bangura said, adding: “The issue is whether the reforms agreed upon by both the Government and the APC have been fully implemented. Those reforms were intended to restore public confidence in Sierra Leone’s electoral process.”»
According to Dr. Bangura, the recommendations encompass a wide range of reforms, including changes to the appointment process for Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) commissioners, reforms to electoral laws, constitutional amendments relating to the national census, and institutional reforms affecting the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), the Independent Media Commission (IMC), the Sierra Leone Police, and the Judiciary.
He questioned whether certain recent government actions, particularly appointments within the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, were fully consistent with the consultative approach envisaged under the Agreement for National Unity.
Dr. Bangura further maintained that Parliament has a constitutional responsibility to consider and enact the legislation necessary to implement the agreed reforms.
Referring to the Constitution of Sierra Leone, he noted that while the President possesses constitutional authority to enter into treaties and agreements on behalf of the State, Parliament also has a constitutional role where legislative approval or statutory implementation is required. He cited Section 40(4)(d) of the Constitution in discussing the President’s constitutional responsibilities.
Invoking the legal doctrine: “pacta sunt servanda,” meaning “agreements must be kept” Dr. Bangura argued that political agreements voluntarily entered into should be honoured in good faith.
He cautioned that failure to implement the commitments contained in the Agreement for National Unity could undermine public’s confidence, affect relations with development partners, and have wider implications for Sierra Leone’s democratic governance.
Dr. Bangura also expressed concern over what he described as growing political polarization, ethnic politics, misinformation, corruption, selective justice, and the politicization of state institutions, warning that such practices weaken democracy and national cohesion.
He urged political leaders to uphold the Constitution, respect the rule of law, and strengthen independent institutions in the national interest.
«”The rule of law must take precedence over political expediency,” he stated. “Our institutions must be allowed to function independently if democracy is to deepen.”»
Dr. Bangura concluded that the full implementation of the Agreement for National Unity and the Tripartite Committee’s recommendations remains essential to rebuilding trust in Sierra Leone’s electoral process and ensuring that future elections are widely accepted as credible.