Three years after the Agreement for National Unity was signed on 18th October 2023, Sierra Leone faces an important question; has the agreement transformed political relations and strengthened democratic institutions, or does much of its promise remain unfinished business?
The agreement was signed by the government of President Julius Maada Bio and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) following political tensions surrounding the June 2023 general elections. Supported by international partners, it sought to restore political dialogue, encourage inclusive governance and address concerns about electoral credibility.
The agreement represented an important attempt to prevent political disagreements from deepening into a prolonged national crisis. However, the passage of time demands an assessment based not simply on commitments made, but on practical changes in the country’s political and democratic institutions.
As Sierra Leone approaches the 2028 general elections, the question is whether the progress achieved so far is sufficient to restore confidence and prevent similar disputes from recurring.
One significant development following the agreement was the establishment of the Tripartite Committee to examine electoral systems, election management and governance concerns arising from the 2023 elections.
The committee produced 80 recommendations in June 2024, providing a framework for institutional and electoral reforms. These recommendations addressed matters intended to improve electoral transparency, strengthen accountability and increase confidence in future elections.
The agreement also created an avenue for political dialogue and international engagement. ECOWAS, the United Nations and the Commonwealth, subsequently supported efforts to assess implementation and encourage cooperation between the government and opposition.
These developments matter because political disputes require mechanisms through which competing parties can negotiate, exchange information and resolve disagreements peacefully.
Nevertheless, establishing committees and producing recommendations are only the beginning. The real test is whether these arrangements deliver reforms that citizens and political stakeholders can identify and evaluate.
On 21 April 2026, the opposition agreed to end its boycott following mediation by international guarantors and renewed commitments on electoral reforms. The arrangement included advancing the Tripartite recommendations and restructuring the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) by 31 December 2026.
The return was significant because it reopened opportunities for parliamentary participation, local governance and direct engagement between the two major political parties.
However, participation alone does not necessarily mean that political trust has been fully restored. The more important question is whether the parties can maintain constructive engagement when disagreements arise.The agreement’s value depends on whether political leaders continue to use democratic institutions to address their differences rather than resorting to prolonged withdrawals from governance.
The Tripartite recommendations were intended to address concerns about electoral systems, management of elections, results processing and the broader institutional arrangements governing electoral competition.
In July 2026, Parliament approved the establishment of a Standing Committee on Electoral Matters under Recommendation 20 of the Tripartite Report. The committee includes representatives from the governing SLPP and opposition APC, alongside paramount chief members of Parliament(MPs).The APC Minority Leader, Abdul Kargbo, was named chairman, with Leader of Government Business Sahr Mathew Nyuma as Deputy chairman.
This is a tangible institutional development. A dedicated parliamentary committee can provide a forum for reviewing electoral preparedness, examining the electoral cycle and guiding legislative reforms before the 2028 elections.
Yet the creation of the committee is not the same as completing electoral reform. Its effectiveness will depend on its terms of reference, access to relevant information, the quality of its deliberations and the implementation of its recommendations.
The commitment to restructure the ECSL by the end of December 2026, is another important benchmark. As of 28 October 2026, that deadline remains ahead. Its fulfilment will be a key indicator of whether the parties are honouring the commitments reached through mediation.
In January 2026, ECOWAS reported discussions with the Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat about implementation of the 80 recommendations. The Secretariat outlined nationwide consultations, stakeholder engagement, public sensitisation and institutional reform activities.
The third assessment mission of the international moral guarantors, conducted from 13 to 20 April 2026, also acknowledged progress while identifying continuing challenges.
The mission called for deeper cooperation, renewed trust, better information sharing and inclusive decision making. It further recommended strengthening the Tripartite implementation framework, expanding representation and establishing a high level oversight mechanism.These developments show that implementation has continued. However, they also demonstrate that the process remains unfinished.
Political actors and commentators have expressed different assessments of the pace of implementation. In March 2026, Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr was quoted as saying that only 10 per cent of the Tripartite recommendations had been implemented, citing information from the Secretariat. Such assessments should be examined against the official implementation tracker, including how completed, ongoing and partially implemented recommendations are classified.
The public needs a clear and independently assessable account of progress rather than competing political claims. A recommendation being discussed, initiated or partially implemented should not automatically be treated as fully completed. Although electoral reform is central to the agreement, national unity involves more than preparing for another election.
It requires political leaders to respect opposing views, discourage inflammatory rhetoric and demonstrate a willingness to resolve disputes peacefully. It also requires institutions to operate transparently and citizens to feel that their political rights are protected.
The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion has continued engaging political stakeholders on implementation. In August 2026, the commission reported consultations with the APC and state institutions, including discussions about joint reporting and plans for monthly government opposition meetings to monitor commitments.
Such arrangements could strengthen accountability if they lead to regular reporting, clear deadlines and meaningful action on outstanding issues.
The challenge is to ensure that dialogue extends beyond senior political figures. Civil society, smaller political parties, women, young people and communities should have opportunities to contribute to reforms affecting the country’s democratic future.
National reconciliation cannot be sustained by elite agreements alone if citizens see little improvement in the institutions responsible for protecting their rights.
The government and APC should prioritise the timely completion of agreed electoral reforms, including the restructuring of the ECSL within the December 2026 deadline.
Parliament should ensure that the Standing Committee on Electoral Matters operates effectively and provides meaningful oversight of preparations for 2028.
The Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat should publish accessible, regular reports identifying completed recommendations, outstanding actions, responsible institutions and implementation deadlines.
Both parties must also maintain dialogue, respect agreed procedures and avoid actions that could undermine confidence in the reform process. International partners can continue supporting the process, but lasting progress ultimately depends on the willingness of Sierra Leone’s own political leaders and institutions to fulfil their commitments.
Since 2023, Sierra Leone has moved from post election political tension towards renewed dialogue, established an 80-recommendation reform framework, secured the APC’s return to governance in April 2026 and created a parliamentary committee dedicated to electoral matters.
These are identifiable developments, but they do not establish that every commitment has been fulfilled or that political trust has been fully restored.
The agreement should therefore be judged neither solely by its achievements nor exclusively by its shortcomings. Its true value lies in whether the institutions and processes it created can deliver lasting improvements in electoral credibility, democratic participation and peaceful political competition.
With the 2028 elections approaching, there is little room for complacency. The government and opposition must demonstrate that the agreement remains a living commitment rather than a historical document invoked during periods of political tension.
In the end, what has changed since 2023 will be measured not by the number of agreements signed or meetings convened, but by the reforms completed, the trust rebuilt and the confidence citizens have in the democratic process.