The Lawyers’ Society of Sierra Leone has issued a scathing critique of the government’s recent decision to create new districts and localities, warning that the move undermines democratic governance, violates constitutional processes, and risks politicizing the upcoming 2026 national census.
In a press statement released on June 7, the Society responded to the announcement by Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Tamba Lamina, which revealed Cabinet’s approval for the creation of two new districts—Bandajuma (in Bo and Pujehun) and Kpanguma (in Kenema and Kailahun). The government also plans to divide the Western Area Rural District into three, and declare Lungi a city due to its proximity to the international airport.
The Society expressed deep concern that these changes are being introduced more than a year before the constitutionally mandated December 2026 census, which is supposed to inform adjustments to electoral boundaries and governance structures. They argue that the timing of the move suggests it is not based on current demographic data, which would violate Section 38(4) of the 1991 Constitution.
“Making such significant decisions more than a year before the next census raises concerns about the credibility and data-driven nature of this decision,” the statement reads. “We believe this move is politically motivated and risks undermining the integrity of the upcoming 2026 census.”
The statement also referenced Section 2(2) of the Local Government Act of 2022, which stipulates that any declaration of a new locality must be based on recommendations considering population density and other factors. The Society argues that there is no public evidence to show that such analysis informed the government’s decision.
According to the Lawyers’ Society, the government has failed to provide convincing justification for how new districts or cities will resolve the longstanding challenges in Sierra Leone’s decentralization system. Instead, they argue that the move will stretch already limited governance resources and distract from the core issue of incomplete devolution of power and delayed fiscal allocations to local councils.
“We maintain that the priority should be on fully implementing devolution and ensuring adequate resources for local councils, rather than creating new districts and localities in the midst of economic challenges we are currently facing as a country,” the Society stated.
The group also warned against the political manipulation of district boundaries, drawing parallels with the previous APC-led government’s creation of two new districts following the 2015 census—seen then as a strategy to expand parliamentary representation in their stronghold. The current SLPP government’s decision, they say, appears to follow the same pattern.
“Creating two new districts by the government will undoubtedly serve a political purpose but will perpetuate a cycle of retaliatory boundary or district delimitations,” the statement added.
The Lawyers’ Society concluded by reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law and to working with government and oversight institutions to ensure that administrative reforms meet legal standards and genuinely serve the interests of all Sierra Leoneans.
By Lois James
