(In Line with Recommendation 78 of the Tripartite Report)
28 June 2025 | Bo, Southern Sierra Leone
The fourth round of Sierra Leone’s regional consultations on electoral reform took place in Bo on Saturday, as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to determine its preferred voting system—either Proportional Representation (PR) or First-Past-the-Post (FPTP).
Participants at the Southern Region session were drawn from Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba, and Pujehun districts.
The event began with a strong message from women of Bonthe, who protested the absence of any female representation at the high table. Their protest sparked an open, passionate debate about gender inclusion in national governance.
What followed was a dynamic and well-informed discussion, with many women taking the floor to contribute to the debate. Their interventions reflected not only calls for inclusion, but also a deep understanding of the electoral issues at stake.
“Sierra Leone is at a crossroads—a political intersection where the state must decide on an electoral system that promotes political stability, economic wellbeing, and social resilience,”
said John Abu, Resident Minister for the Southern Region.
The Mayor of Bo Municipality added:
“We support a system that allows the government to administer elections peacefully, while promoting unity and social cohesion.”
Participants across the Southern Region spoke with a unified voice, demonstrating a strong grasp of both systems and showing a clear sense of civic engagement. Many addressed the consultation as if delivering formal presentations, reflecting widespread awareness and ownership of the process.
This public dialogue is part of efforts to implement Recommendation 78 of the Tripartite Report, which calls for national consultations on the most suitable electoral system for Sierra Leone.
The next regional consultation is scheduled for 30 June 2025 in Waterloo, covering the Western Rural district.
The consultations are being organised by the Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney-General, and supported by the Government of Sierra Leone and the European Union in Sierra Leone, through International IDEA Africa.
