By Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
SIERRA Leone has taken a significant step away from political instability after a joint assessment mission by ECOWAS, UNOWAS, and the Commonwealth brokered a fresh agreement between the Government and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, including an immediate end to the APC’s boycott of governance processes.
The breakthrough came during a third assessment mission to Freetown from 13 to 20 April 2026, led by the International Moral Guarantors tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Agreement for National Unity (ANU), originally signed on 18 October 2023.
The high‑level delegation was co‑led by former Vice President of The Gambia, H.E. Fatoumata Jallow‑Tambajang; the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary‑General for West Africa and the Sahel, H.E. Barrie Freeman; and the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary‑General, H.E. Ambassador Tanmaya Lal.
After days of intensive dialogue facilitated by the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), both sides reached a series of binding commitments aimed at restoring trust and clearing the path toward the 2028 general elections.
APC to End Boycott Immediately
In a key concession, the APC and its elected officials agreed to “immediately end the boycott and ensure an inclusive, transparent and effective governance process at all levels in the country.” The opposition had previously withdrawn from several parliamentary and local governance structures, citing unresolved grievances from previous electoral disputes.
The Government, for its part, committed to the urgent reconstitution of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, as originally recommended by the Tripartite Committee’s report. Parliament has been tasked with developing terms of reference for the committee in line with Section 32(11) of the Constitution.
Electoral Commission Overhaul by December 2026
Perhaps the most far‑reaching agreement concerns the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL). Both parties have committed to restructure the Commission within the framework of the Agreement for National Unity no later than 31 December 2026.
Where undue delays occur, the parties and the International Moral Guarantors will reconvene to review the situation.
The Mission also welcomed the tabling of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in Parliament, noting that the choice of the electoral system for 2028 will now be determined through proper parliamentary processes.
New Oversight and Legal Mechanisms
To ensure implementation does not stall again, the parties agreed to restructure and expand the Tripartite Steering Committee. A new High‑Level Oversight Mechanism will provide strategic oversight, while the Steering Committee itself will be expanded to include additional APC members, other political parties, and civil society.
A separate Team of Legal Experts on constitutional and legislative reforms, with representation from the APC, the Government, and other relevant groups, will also be constituted.
Census Data and Electoral Security
On the ongoing Population and Housing Census, both sides agreed that census data is primarily a developmental and governance tool. The Government committed to an all‑stakeholder approach, including political parties, on the use of the 2026 census data.
Regarding election security, the Vice President will engage the National Security Council to determine how existing security and civil society platforms can engage more directly with political stakeholders.
Call for Restraint and End to Hate Speech
The Mission urged all political leaders, party supporters, and citizens to exercise restraint and refrain from hate speech, inciting statements, and disinformation, warning that such actions fuel political tensions and undermine national cohesion.
The statement, issued from Freetown on 20 April 2026, reaffirmed the commitment of ECOWAS, UNOWAS, and the Commonwealth to continue supporting Sierra Leone’s journey toward participatory democracy and inclusive governance.
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