The Office of National Security (ONS) has concluded a series of regional consultative workshops aimed at identifying baseline political risks and security threats that could affect the peaceful conduct of Sierra Leone’s 2028 General Elections. The nationwide exercise, which ended on 29 July 2026, brought together a broad range of stakeholders from all five regions to assess existing and emerging electoral challenges and develop strategies to strengthen conflict prevention and democratic stability.
The Regional Baseline Risk and Threat Assessment Consultative Workshops were organized to examine past and current political trends, identify existing and emerging political hotspots, analyse the key drivers of electoral conflict and assess threats that could undermine the credibility and peaceful conduct of the 2028 polls. The initiative forms part of the ONS’s broader efforts to enhance national preparedness and reinforce early warning mechanisms ahead of the country’s next electoral cycle.
The consultations Western covered the Southern, Eastern, Northern, North-Western and Area regions. Workshops were held in Bo on 21 July, bringing together participants from the Southern and Eastern regions; Makeni on 23 July, with representatives from the Northern and North-Western regions and Waterloo on 24 July, involving stakeholders from both Western Area Rural and Western Area Urban.
Each workshop attracted a diverse group of participants, including representatives of political parties, security institutions, election management bodies, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, women’s organisations, youth groups, persons with disabilities and media practitioners. Their participation was intended to ensure that the assessment reflected a broad range of perspectives and experiences from across the country.
According to the ONS, the consultative process sought to promote inclusive dialogue among key actors while strengthening early warning systems capable of identifying and responding to emerging security concerns. It also aimed to generate evidence-based recommendations to improve electoral security management, conflict prevention mechanisms and democratic governance.
The findings from the regional assessments are expected to provide valuable baseline data that will support national preparedness efforts, improve coordination among institutions responsible for election security, and guide the development of strategic interventions to ensure that the 2028 General Elections are peaceful, credible, inclusive and free from violence.
Each regional workshop featured goodwill messages from representatives of key election-related institutions before participants were divided into thematic focus groups for detailed discussions. The focus groups comprised both state and non-state actors, including members of the security sector, election management bodies, civil society organisations, media practitioners, women’s groups, youth representatives, religious leaders and organisations representing persons with disabilities.
The discussions focused on identifying localized political tensions, community-level grievances, institutional vulnerabilities and other factors that could increase the risk of electoral violence if left unaddressed. Participants also proposed practical measures to strengthen cooperation among institutions and communities in addressing potential threats before they escalate.
Addressing participants during the workshops, the Chief of Staff of the Office of National Security, Francis Langumba Keili, who chaired all the regional consultations, underscored the importance of the exercise in safeguarding Sierra Leone’s democratic process.
He noted that previous elections in Sierra Leone had often been characterized by political violence and heightened political polarization, making it imperative for stakeholders to work collectively in identifying and mitigating potential risks well before the commencement of the 2028 electoral process.
Francis Langumba Keili explained that the consultative workshops were designed to identify political hotspots, electoral threats and the principal drivers of political tension across the country. He added that the exercise also sought to assess institutional vulnerabilities and community-level friction points while establishing baseline data to strengthen national coordination and preparedness for future elections.
Representatives of the Sierra Leone Police, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, the Political Parties Regulation Commission and other institutions involved in the country’s electoral process delivered goodwill messages during the workshops. They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting collaborative efforts aimed at maintaining peace, strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring a secure electoral environment.
The Office of National Security believes that the consultative process has laid an important foundation for proactive risk management and enhanced cooperation among stakeholders. By bringing together Government institutions, political actors, Civil Society Organisations and community representatives, the ONS says it is strengthening national resilience against electoral violence while promoting a culture of dialogue, inclusion and peaceful political participation.
With less than two years before Sierra Leone’s next general elections, the completion of the Regional Baseline Risk and Threat Assessment Consultative Workshops represents a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to build a comprehensive framework for electoral conflict prevention and ensure that the 2028 General Elections are conducted in a peaceful, transparent and credible manner.
