TRIPARTRITE SECRETARIAT AND OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLD NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON PREFERRED ELECTORAL SYSTEM

By Morlai Sesay

In a crucial step to shape Sierra Leone's electoral future, fostering inclusive decision-making, and strengthening democratic institutions, the Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat and the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice held a progressive national dialogue on the preferred electoral system for Sierra Leone on Thursday, 17^th July 2025 at the renowned Freetown International Conference Center.

This dialogue is part of the implementation of Recommendation 78 from the Tripartite Committee's report, which suggests a national discussion on the choice of electoral system for Parliament and local councils.  The dialogue, which brought together stakeholders, including government officials, representatives from political parties, civil society leaders, and technical experts on electoral systems, further aims to reach a consensus on the preferred electoral system, ensuring that it aligns with Sierra Leone's democratic principles and promotes fair representation. Prior to this national dialogue, a meeting which was held between the Attorney-General, Tripartite Coordinator, and International IDEA reviewed technical decisions around implementing Recommendation 78, including plans for regional consultations and the national dialogue. Speaking at the august gathering, the Coordinator of the Tripartite Secretariat, Ngolo Katta told everyone present that recommendation 78 in the Tripartite Report was under implementation since technical and general consultations had been conducted in Freetown and the regions.

Katta stated that four technical consultations were held in Freetown: one with electoral management bodies and the Security Sector, one with all registered political parties, one with Inter-Religious Council, and an expert panel with academics and a select audience. Katta updated that the regional consultations took place in Port Loko, Makeni, Kenema, and Bo. One was organized in the Western Rural Area in Waterloo. He mentioned that an Independent Management and Functional Review on Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone ECSL had been conducted, and its report presented to the President, noting that it contained 85 recommendations, and an action plan has been developed to support the implementation of the review report.

Other Management and Functional Reviews on IMC, SLBC, Independent Police Complaint Partnership Board, and PPRC he said would be completed soon and that would institutionalize reforms, improve management systems, and revolutionize operations in a manner that would add value to the human resources of the institutions and boost efficiency and service delivery. 

On the constitutional and legislative reform front, Katta noted that drafters at the Office of the AG were far ahead in drafting provisions in the constitution and legislations to fit into the PPRC and ECSL Acts as recommended by the Tripartite Report. A draft report would be produced, and technical consultations held on it before arriving at the Steering Committee for the attention of the President and Parliament. Katta ended by urging every stakeholder to support the work of the Secretariat and approach the tripartite processes without bias or distortion of facts.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Alpha Sesay emphasized that reforming Sierra Leone's electoral system is not a mere technical or institutional exercise, but a national commitment crucial to accountability, trust-building, and citizen participation. The Attorney General argued that a true democracy is self-correcting, and that the reform process must be rooted in the lived experiences of ordinary citizens—from market women to youth activists to traditional leaders and motorbike riders. According to him, President Bio has placed democratic renewal at the heart of his governance, especially through the constitutional review process, which has been delayed for decades but is now being prioritized and that the ongoing dialogue is not a starting point but the result of broad, inclusive national consultations involving political parties, civil society, traditional leaders, religious groups, the security sector, and more.

Sesay posited that Sierra Leone has made significant democratic progress, including five peaceful elections since 2002 and two peaceful transfers of power in 2007 and 2018. These according to him are historic achievements given the country’s past of dictatorship, coups, and civil war. Despite these progresses, he stated that challenges persist such as electoral disputes, institutional weaknesses, polarization, and marginalized voices (especially youth) left out. He, however, noted that the preceding challenges are framed not as failures, but as natural growing pains of a maturing democracy.

Head of European Union Delegation, His Excellency Jacet Jankowski noted that the EU has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sierra Leone, particularly in advancing the recommendations from the Tripartite Committee, including fostering development, unity, and good governance. Jackwoski heaped praise on Sierra Leone's ability to find peaceful solutions during challenging times, particularly through the implementation of the Tripartite Committee's recommendations, emphasizing that many countries could learn from Sierra Leone's approach. On the area of partnership and cooperation, he emphasized that the EU has highlighted the importance of its partnership with Sierra Leone, emphasizing collaborative achievements, including the October 2023 Agreement and the recommendations from the Tripartite Committee.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana disclosed that the UN Security Council held a closed-door session to discuss Sierra Leone's tripartite peace agreement, highlighting the global community's commitment to supporting the country's peace and stability efforts. She mentioned that the UN, along with other international organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS, has endorsed the agreement and expressed support for the Tripartite Committee's work, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in promoting peace and democracy. Overall, Wakana stated that the UN's reaction to the Tripartite Committee's engagement in Sierra Leone reflects the organization's dedication to promoting peace, stability, and democracy in the country, and its recognition of the committee's critical role in shaping Sierra Leone's future.