By Abass Mahmoud Sillah Jr
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, on Tuesday held a high-level engagement with a delegation of International Moral Guarantors to review progress on Sierra Leone’s electoral reform agenda. The meeting, held at the Guma Building on Lamina Sankoh Street in Freetown, brought together key international partners supporting the country’s democratic consolidation efforts. The delegation was led by former Vice President of The Gambia, Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang, and included senior representatives from the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and The Commonwealth.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Tambajang said their mission was to assess the Government’s implementation of the Agreement for National Unity, particularly the recommendations put forward by the Tripartite Committee under Resolution 3 of the accord. She noted that the visit forms part of ongoing international efforts to support peace, stability, and democratic governance in Sierra Leone. In his response, Attorney General Sesay highlighted what he described as “significant strides” made by the Government in implementing key provisions of the Agreement.
He explained that his office is directly responsible for executing Resolution 4, which focuses on the review and rationalisation of politically motivated cases, alongside advancing legislative reforms arising from the Tripartite process. He further underscored that several of the committee’s recommendations are closely aligned with the country’s ongoing constitutional review efforts. According to him, the Government has embraced these proposals as part of broader efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s constitutional and democratic framework. Providing historical context, Sesay referenced the Lomé Peace Agreement and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which he said laid the groundwork for earlier constitutional reform initiatives.
These include the Peter Tucker Constitutional Review Committee and the Justice Edmond Cowan-led 80-member Constitutional Review Committee (2013–2017), established during the administration of former President Ernest Bai Koroma. The Attorney General also disclosed that, in line with Sierra Leone’s obligations under ECOWAS protocols and other international commitments, a constitutional amendment Bill addressing electoral reforms has already been introduced in Parliament. He said the move is aimed at ensuring that all necessary legislative changes are concluded well ahead of the 2028 general elections.
“The intention is to consolidate these reforms early, drawing from both the Justice Cowan Constitutional Committee and the Tripartite Committee recommendations as foundational sources,” he noted. Addressing concerns over the appointment of the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Sesay maintained that the President acted strictly within the provisions of the Constitution, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to due process and the rule of law. “Democracy is not a destination, but a continuous act of collective will and refinement,” he stated. He concluded by reaffirming the Government’s commitment to advancing electoral and constitutional reforms in the best interest of the people, emphasizing that sustained collaboration with international partners remains key to strengthening democratic governance in Sierra Leone.
