By Fatmata Jusu Kai Kai
Political tensions in Sierra Leone intensified on Tuesday as Parliament’s Speaker urged lawmakers to prioritise public service, while a dispute over the leadership of the capital, Freetown, deepened.
Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas reminded Members of Parliament of their constitutional responsibilities as sittings resumed after a recess, warning against conduct that undermines public trust.
Citing Section 97 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, Thomas said lawmakers must act in the interest of citizens and avoid personal enrichment. “You have been elected by your people… to serve the Republic of Sierra Leone. All other considerations are secondary,” he told Parliament.
He added that the adjournment had been extended to accommodate internal elections of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) and the Eid holiday, urging lawmakers to now focus on legislative work.
Meanwhile, a political standoff unfolded in Freetown after councillors from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) nominated an acting mayor following the reported boycott of duties by elected mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr.
Aki-Sawyerr rejected the move as unlawful, citing the Local Government Act 2022, which she said does not provide for an acting mayor. She also argued that the councillors lacked the quorum required to hold a valid council meeting.
The dispute highlights ongoing friction between the opposition-led city council and the central government, controlled by the SLPP, raising concerns among analysts about governance, legality, and service delivery in the capital.
Observers say both developments underscore broader challenges in Sierra Leone’s political landscape, where institutional tensions and partisan divisions continue to shape governance.
