Sierra Leone Gears Up for 2028 Elections: Tripartite Secretariat Implements Reforms to Prevent Grievances

As Sierra Leone looks ahead to the 2028 elections, the Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat is actively implementing key recommendations aimed at ensuring a fair and equitable electoral process. 

Ngolo Katta, the coordinator of the Secretariat, at the ministry of information and civic education’s weekly briefing highlighted the ongoing efforts to address potential grievances and uphold democratic principles.

A central focus of these reforms is Recommendation 78, which calls for a thorough examination of Sierra Leone's two existing electoral systems: the first-past-the-post and the district constitutional representation systems. 

Crucially, Katta emphasized that any adopted system must actively promote gender equality and empowerment. This includes a review of the General Equality and Empowerment Act to guarantee a 30 percent quota for women's representation.

Beyond gender considerations, the recommendations also stress the importance of including other vulnerable groups, such as young people and persons with disabilities. 

Katta noted that their unique concerns, stemming from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report, are already being integrated into the framework. 

This means that before each election, the electoral commission is tasked with developing clear regulations to ensure that quota systems effectively benefit these populations.

To facilitate these crucial reforms, the Secretariat, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General's office, is working to establish a robust system for moving the process forward. 

This initiative has garnered support from international partners, including the European Union and the government of Sierra Leone.

The implementation process is structured in three key phases. It began with a series of closed-door technical sessions, followed by widespread regional consultations. 

The final stage will involve consolidating these discussions into a comprehensive report, culminating in a national dialogue conference.

Katta revealed that the process commenced with engagement from the electoral commission and all other governance institutions, including security sectors, recognizing their pivotal role as frontline actors in the electoral process. 

These stakeholders convened for a unified conversation to propel the reforms forward.

Acknowledging the need for impartiality and expertise, the Secretariat enlisted a team of professional facilitators to guide the process. 

To ensure transparency, international consultants from Nigeria, boasting extensive experience in electoral processes, have also been brought in to provide external support. 

These three facilitators are instrumental in ensuring an open and fair implementation of the recommendations.