By Samuel Harding
Sierra Leone’s main opposition, the All Peoples Congress (APC), said on Sunday it had reached an agreement with the government on a series of electoral and governance reforms following days of talks mediated by international partners.
In a statement issued after engagements held from April 14 to 19, the APC said discussions facilitated by “International Moral Guarantors” had produced “clear and actionable understandings” aimed at restoring confidence in the country’s electoral processes.
The party said it had raised “grave concerns” over what it described as the non-implementation of key recommendations from a Tripartite Committee set up after disputed elections, as well as broader issues of constitutional compliance and institutional credibility.
Central to the agreement, according to the APC, is a commitment to implement electoral reforms contained in the Tripartite Committee recommendations, including restructuring the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone and reviewing its leadership framework to restore public trust.
The APC said these commitments would be backed by defined timelines and accountability mechanisms, including continued monitoring at both national and international levels and a joint review process with the Moral Guarantors by the end of December 2026.
The statement added that the reforms are intended to strengthen transparency, inclusiveness and confidence in future elections, warning that failure to implement them could undermine democratic stability.
The APC said it was giving the process a “last and final chance,” adding that it had acted in good faith and in the interest of peace, democratic stability, the rule of law and the welfare of the Sierra Leonean people.
It warned that if the government failed to implement the الاتفاق by the end of 2026, the party would “return to its members and the people of Sierra Leone” to determine the next course of action, stressing that any steps taken would be “by all means necessary within the law” to defend democracy and accountability.
The party said it would not accept further delays or what it described as “games” in the implementation process, and pledged to do “everything humanly possible” to defend the constitution and the rights of citizens if commitments are not honoured.
“This process has now transitioned from negotiation to accountability,” the APC said, adding it would not accept “indefinite delays or superficial compliance.”
The APC also urged its supporters to remain calm and refrain from disruptive action, acknowledging frustration among its base while encouraging them to monitor implementation of the agreed reforms.
There was no immediate response from government officials or the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party.
Sierra Leone has faced heightened political tensions since recent elections, with opposition groups questioning the credibility of electoral institutions and calling for reforms.
