The post-election phase was characterized by escalating tension such that the APC declared none participation in the governance architecture, withholding elected representatives from presenting themselves in parliament and in local councils. This refusal was a concern to government as such the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion initiated actions to settle the political impasse. The ICPNC in collaboration with local actors also sought the participation of the international community. The United Nations, Commonwealth, the African Union, and the ECOWAS supported a mediated dialogue. The dialogue resulted in the formation of a Cross Party Committee on Electoral Systems and Management Bodies Review.
The Committee held meetings and set out its structure and terms of reference which among other things included: to review and examine the structures and processes of the 2023 multi-tier elections and other electoral cycles consistent with the law and international best practice, and to review the legal framework and make an assessment of the reforms that came out of it. Additionally, the Committee has several mandates among which included to recommend necessary actions and reforms thereafter, improvements or amendments to electoral laws, procedures and regulations, to ensure free, fair, transparent and credible electoral process in future elections in the country.
In view of its mandate of proffering recommendations, the Committee proffered 80 recommendations. Recommendation 80, however, establishes the Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat by directing Cabinet to develop a Cabinet Paper to guide government of Sierra Leone’s implementation, including legislative reforms as required. The Secretariat is formed to coordinate implementation of the 80 recommendations as set out in the Committee’s Report dated July, 2024.
