By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has issued a strong call on national leaders to place the interests of ordinary Sierra Leoneans above partisan considerations as the country intensifies efforts to amend the 1991 Constitution and reform its electoral system. In a newly released policy brief titled: “Democratization in Sierra Leone: Challenges and Opportunities in Constitutional Review and Electoral Reform,” the rights-based advocacy organisation warned that electoral reforms, if poorly designed or politically manipulated, could become a “trapdoor for democracy” instead of a pathway to stronger governance.

CHRDI’s policy brief arrives at a critical moment when Sierra Leone is confronting deep questions about electoral integrity, public confidence in the democratic process and whether upcoming reforms will strengthen the nation’s political institutions or undermine multiparty competition. The organisation said constitutional and electoral reforms must serve the people by protecting fundamental rights, safeguarding electoral fairness and ensuring national unity rather than being shaped to satisfy narrow political interests.

In the brief, CHRDI highlighted that Sierra Leone’s Constitution remains the backbone of the country’s governance structure, providing the legal basis for the separation of powers between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary while guaranteeing human rights protections and democratic principles. The group noted that the 1991 Constitution affirms presidential authority, legislative functions and judicial independence, as well as the protection of citizens’ fundamental freedoms and the pursuit of social justice.

However, CHRDI stressed that strong constitutional provisions alone are not enough if implementation is weak or compromised. The policy brief pointed to long-standing national challenges, including governance divisions rooted in over-centralization of power and resources and political tensions that often surface during election periods.

According to CHRDI, democratic progress must be measured by whether citizens can truly exercise their rights without fear, intimidation, exclusion or manipulation, especially during elections; the defining moments of representation and national direction.

CHRDI acknowledged that Sierra Leone’s ongoing constitutional review process, initiated in 2021, represents an important attempt to modernize governance by addressing issues such as executive power, judicial independence and the strengthening of human rights protections. At the same time, the organisation noted that electoral reform laws enacted in 2022 were aimed at improving transparency, strengthening voter registration accuracy and tightening candidate eligibility screening.

But the organisation cautioned that electoral reform is not automatically democratic simply because it is branded as reform. It argued that electoral laws can either build public trust or deepen national frustration, depending on their fairness and the sincerity of the process that produces them.

CHRDI explained that electoral reform can introduce important measures such as sanctions against electoral intimidation, rules for converting votes into seats and regulations on the use of money in politics; tools that can increase accountability and representation. Yet, it warned that reforms can also become weapons for political advantage if they are designed to restrict participation or concentrate power.

The policy brief placed significant emphasis on the political tensions that followed Sierra Leone’s 2023 elections, describing them as contested and deeply divisive, ultimately requiring an Agreement for National Unity to ease hostility between the ruling Government and the opposition All People’s Congress.

CHRDI recalled that the Agreement for National Unity helped reduce political and security tensions, encouraged cross-party dialogue, supported the return of the opposition into Government bodies and led to the creation of a Tripartite Committee to review electoral systems to make future elections more inclusive and fair.

However, CHRDI argued that national unity agreements should not merely calm crises but must inspire real reforms that close electoral loopholes and prevent similar disputes from repeating. The organisation maintained that Sierra Leone’s democratic stability depends on reforms that are transparent, inclusive and trusted by all sides.

One of the central concerns raised in CHRDI’s policy brief relates to provisions contained in the 2025 draft constitutional amendments bill, which the organisation believes contains significant gaps and risky proposals. Among the issues highlighted are the lack of inclusion of persons with disabilities in the nomination and search committee, timelines that CHRDI described as unrealistic for petitions and inadequate clarity on the requirements for independent presidential candidates.

The organisation also criticized proposals that appear to remove political parties that fail to win national elections in two consecutive cycles, warning that such measures could weaken multiparty democracy and become an undemocratic manipulation of electoral outcomes.

CHRDI further indicated that while Government officials have stated that the draft bill draws from the Agreement for National Unity and the constitutional review process, the broader public needs stronger education and awareness to fully understand what is being proposed and how it may impact their democratic rights.

CHRDI’s policy brief recognized that the proposed Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Act 2025 contains some potentially positive reforms, including a 30% gender quota, clearer election schedules, limits on certain presidential powers and provisions relating to the political neutrality of security forces.

Despite those positives, the organisation warned that the bill also raises serious concerns about the possibility of increased power concentration, weakened separation of powers, threats to political pluralism, expanded judicial authority and challenges in implementation.

CHRDI argued that a reform process that strengthens one aspect of governance while undermining others may ultimately do more harm than good. It insisted that constitutional changes must be rooted in democratic principles and must not leave room for future Governments to exercise unchecked authority in ways that could endanger the country’s political progress.

CHRDI emphasized that electoral reform is never a one-man process, describing it as complex and involving many actors including the Executive, Parliament, election management bodies and agencies responsible for administration. The organisation also underlined the vital role of political parties, media institutions and civil society organisations in reviewing, monitoring and advocating for credible reforms.

The organisation said its advocacy is grounded in the belief that the success of democratic reform must be judged by the confidence citizens have in the process, especially because Sierra Leone continues to experience “very low confidence” in Government and politicians.

CHRDI warned that reform efforts that produce only temporary fixes and fragmented solutions risk leaving the country stuck in cycles of dissatisfaction, mistrust and political tension.

The policy brief traced Sierra Leone’s constitutional reform history through key moments, noting that discussions around constitutional review and democratic consolidation have been intertwined with the country’s political journey, including post-election violence and periods of instability.

CHRDI recalled that the 1991 constitutional review process was linked to wider peacebuilding efforts, including the 1999 Lomé Peace Accord, while the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2002 urged a broad and participatory constitutional review to help build a democratic society where laws protect all citizens.

The organisation further referenced past constitutional review efforts initiated in 2007 and revived in 2013, including the formation of committees and support from development partners such as the United Nations Development Programme, UN Women, the United Kingdom and the European Union.

CHRDI cautioned that failure to implement credible electoral reform recommendations may worsen existing weaknesses, threaten human rights and damage the credibility of elections locally and internationally. It warned that international partners could react negatively in ways that affect cooperation, aid or trade relations.

As part of its policy recommendations, CHRDI called for improvements in the electoral dispute system and urged reforms that enhance fairness without restricting participation. The organisation recommended that the timeline for hearing and determining presidential election petitions should be increased to at least 20 days to ensure adequate legal consideration.

It also proposed the establishment of a proper Electoral Dispute Resolution Act to handle disputes that may emerge across the entire electoral cycle rather than relying on weak or inconsistent mechanisms.

CHRDI further urged clarity on the financial capacity requirements and community support criteria required for independent presidential candidates.

Additionally, it called for inclusive representation in nomination and search committees, including persons with disabilities and demanded greater transparency in how selection criteria and representation categories are determined.

On political parties, CHRDI strongly urged the Government to reconsider any amendment that deregisters political parties simply because they fail to win two consecutive national elections, stressing that such measures contradict the spirit of multiparty democracy and could undermine democratic competition.

CHRDI concluded by reaffirming its identity as a rights-based social policy advocacy organisation working to ensure duty-bearers uphold human rights while enabling citizens to claim their rights. The organisation noted that it holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is accredited to several UN agencies.

With Sierra Leone’s leaders moving forward with constitutional amendments and electoral reforms, CHRDI’s message remains firm: the process must prioritize the people, protect democratic freedoms and strengthen institutions to deliver credible elections that unite, not divide, the nation.