TSCS | Freetown, 17 July 2025
Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, delivered a powerful address on Thursday, urging unity and collective responsibility during the National Dialogue on the country’s electoral system, an event grounded in Recommendation 78 of the Tripartite Committee Report.
The event, held in Freetown, brought together an inclusive spectrum of participants: government ministers, political party representatives, Paramount Chiefs, civil society leaders, students, journalists, and delegates from institutions including the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), the Independent Media Commission (IMC), the European Union, and the United Nations.
Describing the event as a “formative reflection point in the democratic journey of our country,” Dr. Sengeh highlighted the diverse attendance as evidence of Sierra Leone’s growing democratic maturity.
As head of the Tripartite Committee, the Chief Minister underscored the administration’s commitment to the National Unity Agreement. He commended President Julius Maada Bio’s bold move in 2023 to initiate an independent review of the ECSL. “That decision was not about politics,” he said. “It was about unity and responsibility, for our generation and the next.”
UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Seraphine Wakana, encouraged participants to thoughtfully engage with the various electoral models under discussion, stressing the importance of considering their long-term implications.
Also speaking at the forum, Attorney General and Justice Minister Hon. Mohamed Alpha Sesay pointed to fresh momentum behind constitutional reform efforts, crediting President Bio’s leadership for pushing long-awaited changes closer to fruition.
Dr Idrissa Mamoud Tarawallie of International IDEA reminded the audience that the current dialogue stemmed from a year-long planning process aimed at deep, sustainable reform, not simply donor compliance. The broader aim, he said, is to drive institutional transformation.
Dr. Sengeh reiterated that the gathering was more than symbolic. “This National Dialogue is a serious, inclusive, and transformative national process,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to international partners, the EU, International IDEA, and the UN, for their critical support, both financial and technical, in facilitating the implementation of Tripartite Recommendations.
Among the key achievements he highlighted was the creation of a Tripartite Secretariat and the enactment of Recommendation 4d, which enabled the payment of salaries to All People’s Congress (APC) councillors and MPs, an important step in national reconciliation.
The forum affirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive governance, institutional reform, and the strengthening of national cohesion.
Closing his speech, Dr. Sengeh reflected on his 2023 pledge: “Together, we will deliver.” Today, he said, that promise is being realised: “Together, we are delivering.”
