The Government of Sierra Leone has announced plans to restructure the administration of the capital, Freetown, into three localities while maintaining its status as the nation’s capital, as part of a broader national redistricting exercise.

The disclosure was made by the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Tamba Lamina, on the third day of the Salone Civic Festival held at the Miatta Civic Centre. The minister said the proposed changes are aimed at improving governance and service delivery, and not at dividing or downgrading the capital city, as has been widely speculated.

According to Minister Lamina, the Western Urban District, which encompasses Freetown, will be reorganized into three administrative localities East, Central, and West. He explained that the current structure has placed significant administrative and financial pressure on the Freetown City Council, citing challenges such as limited revenue capacity, the complexity of managing the capital city, and longstanding disparities in service delivery across different parts of the city.

The minister stressed that the new arrangement is intended to bring governance closer to residents and improve efficiency in local administration. He noted that similar administrative models already exist in other parts of the country, including Port Loko, Bombali, and Kenema districts, which operate multiple councils while retaining their original district boundaries.

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In addition to the changes proposed for Freetown, Minister Lamina revealed that the Western Area Rural District will also be organized into three administrative localities, while remaining a single district. He said the objective is to strengthen district-level management and enhance service delivery at the grassroots.

The redistricting exercise also includes the creation of new districts and a city. Bandajuma District is expected to be created from parts of Bo and Pujehun districts, while Kpanguma District will be formed from sections of Kailahun and Kenema districts. The minister further announced that Lungi, which hosts Sierra Leone’s international airport, will be elevated to city status in recognition of its strategic importance and growing economic activity.

Minister Lamina stated that nationwide consultations and stakeholder engagements are ongoing, and that a draft report outlining recommendations from the process is ready to be submitted to President Julius Maada Bio for consideration. He assured stakeholders that the proposed administrative changes will not affect the tenure of current local council leadership, including the Mayor of Freetown and the Chairman of the Western Area Rural District, as the new structures are intended for future implementation.

Describing the initiative as part of the government’s wider decentralization and governance reform agenda, the minister said the creation of smaller administrative units is expected to improve responsiveness to community needs and enhance local revenue mobilization by making it easier for councils to engage with residents.

The redistricting proposals, once finalized, are expected to shape the future of local governance and administrative management across Sierra Leone.