Today, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), which once stood proudly as a beacon of hope and democratic struggle, is crumbling under the weight of internal divisions, personal ambitions, tribal entrenchments, and leadership contradictions. Simply put, the SLPP cannot succeed because it is deeply divided. And as history and political science have taught us time and again: a house divided against itself cannot stand, nor can it lead a nation toward prosperity.
The Mirage of Unity:
The SLPP, currently led by President Julius Maada Bio, often attempts to project an image of unity and resilience. But beneath the surface lies a fragile coalition of factions — old guards versus new generation, technocrats versus grassroots loyalists, northern converts versus southern traditionalists, and most recently, the First Lady camp versus the Chief Minister camp. These factions are not driven by ideology or national interest, but by self-preservation, greed, and ambitions for political dominance.
President Bio came to power in 2018 under the banner of “New Direction.” However, instead of forging a new direction based on consensus and collective action within the party, his leadership style has emboldened rival camps, suppressed dissent, and rewarded loyalty over competence. It is this that has created a culture of fear, gossip, and backstabbing within the SLPP leadership structure — a climate not suitable for democratic progress.
The Generational Battles:
One of the most glaring divisions within the SLPP is the generational war between the so-called “old SLPP” and the new breed of technocrats and digital-era politicians. Many of the older generation feel abandoned and betrayed. They argue that they fought hard to sustain the party during its wilderness years after the 2007 loss to the APC. Today, they see young, foreign-educated figures with no struggle history occupying key positions of power, enjoying wealth, influence, and access.
These generational conflicts have led to open confrontations and cold wars in party meetings and cabinet interactions. Instead of mentoring young leaders and building an intergenerational bridge, President Bio has presided over a party where internal cannibalism is normalized. Consequently, key elders have gone silent, alienated, or have resorted to subtle forms of sabotage.
First Lady vs. Chief Minister: The Dangerous Rift?
One of the most destabilizing rifts within the SLPP is the widely reported rivalry between First Lady Fatima Bio and Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh. This toxic competition, veiled in silence but loud in its implications, is tearing the party from the top. Both figures are seen by different camps as possible successors to President Bio, either directly or through influence.
The First Lady has wielded enormous unofficial power, attending international events, controlling access to the President, and allegedly influencing cabinet reshuffles. On the other hand, the Chief Minister, a rising star with academic credentials and donor appeal, has positioned himself as a technocratic leader for the future. Their rivalry has sucked in ministers, party executives, and even civil society players, forcing everyone to pick a side or risk exclusion. In such a polarized environment, policymaking and national development take a back seat to political survival.
Tribal Undertones: A Silent Divider:
The SLPP has also failed to manage the tribal undertones that now threaten to erode its national appeal. Once viewed as a predominantly southern-Mende party, efforts to expand its northern base have been clumsy and counterproductive. Many northern SLPP converts now feel used and discarded, only called upon during elections. Meanwhile, some southern hardliners feel the party is “losing its roots” by giving too much away to outsiders. This has led to mutual suspicion, with appointments and resource distribution being scrutinized through tribal lenses.
In a country like Sierra Leone, where tribal identities still strongly influence politics, any government that fails to maintain ethnic balance risks igniting social unrest and political distrust. The SLPP under Bio has failed to create an inclusive governance model that assures all regions and tribes of fair treatment. That failure is not only dividing the party but is threatening national cohesion.
The Silence of the Vice President:
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, a northern technocrat once touted as the perfect balance for President Bio’s southern roots, has grown increasingly irrelevant in the eyes of many observers. His conspicuous silence and absence in key national conversations point to a sidelined deputy who has lost influence within the inner circle of power. This silence not only weakens the government but deepens the perception that the SLPP leadership is fragmented and driven by cliques rather than a united executive team.
The Impact on National Development:
The internal chaos in the SLPP has had direct consequences on national governance. A government that spends more time managing internal strife than implementing policies is bound to fail. Ministries are plagued with infighting; civil servants are uncertain about loyalties; and national development projects are stalled because of power tussles.
Flagship projects like the “Feed Salone” program and the once-celebrated “Free Quality Education” have become public relations tools rather than genuine national reforms. They are promoted for political survival, not for sustainable impact. The failure to speak with one voice has also weakened the country’s foreign policy and donor confidence, as international partners find it hard to determine who truly speaks for the government.
Lessons from History:
History is replete with examples of divided parties and their inevitable collapse. From the internal wrangling that led to the fall of Siaka Stevens’ APC in the early 1980s to the bitter feuds that weakened the SLPP before the 2007 elections, Sierra Leone has seen this movie before. A party that eats its own cannot win public trust. A party that is divided at the top cannot build from the bottom. And a party more interested in succession politics than national development is doomed to fail.
The Road Ahead:
If the SLPP wishes to salvage its legacy and govern effectively, it must confront its internal demons. President Bio must move beyond favoritism and tribal politics to establish a culture of accountability, meritocracy, and unity. The party must return to its foundational values of democracy, inclusivity, and service to the people. Factionalism must be replaced with dialogue, and personal ambitions must be subordinated to national interest.
Until then, the SLPP remains a fractured house, incapable of delivering on the promises it made to the people of Sierra Leone. And as the biblical adage reminds us — a house divided against itself shall not stand.
The current state of the SLPP is a national concern. Political division within the ruling party has created a paralysis that is eroding public trust and compromising development. The internal fights, the tribal undercurrents, the sidelining of key figures, and the power struggle at the top have rendered the party unfit to lead a diverse and struggling nation like Sierra Leone. If the SLPP cannot heal itself, it cannot heal the nation. It is time for the party to either reunite or prepare for a political obliteration. In truth, a divided house cannot stand, and it certainly cannot develop.