(In Line with Recommendation 78 of the Tripartite Report)
20 June 2025 | Freetown, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s registered political parties gathered at Country Lodge in Freetown on Thursday for the third targeted consultation under Recommendation 78 of the Tripartite Report, engaging in a spirited and respectful dialogue on the country’s future electoral system.
The session, expected to spark heated debate, instead produced an atmosphere of civility, humour, and insight, with party representatives drawing on more than 15 years of political experience to discuss both Proportional Representation (PR) and First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) systems.
“The exhibition of tolerance—punctuated by light-hearted jokes and teasing—underscored a political culture that has matured beyond imagination,”
noted a representative from the Tripartite Secretariat.
While party positions varied, a common thread emerged: broad support for an electoral system that fosters political participation and inclusivity in governance.
“The message in the room was loud and clear—Sierra Leone needs an electoral system that puts participation and inclusion at its centre,”
added the Coordinator of the Tripartite Secretariat, who thanked party leaders for engaging meaningfully on a matter that, in his words,
“touches their political conscience.”
This event concluded the political party segment of the national consultation process. The next session—targeting academics, the media, CSOs, women, youth, persons with disabilities, and independent professionals—is scheduled for Saturday, and will be broadcast live on Liberty TV, SLBC, and AYV starting at 10:00 AM.
The consultations are organised by the Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney-General, with funding from the Government of Sierra Leone and the European Union, facilitated through International IDEA Africa.
