President Julius Maada Bio is expected to soon announce a new Chief Electoral Commissioner for the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), following the expiration of Mohamed Konneh’s five-year mandate on July 25, 2025. Mr. Konneh, who has served as the country’s top elections official since 2020, has reportedly decided not to seek a second term, for reasons he has not publicly disclosed.

According to Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution, the President is required to consult political parties before naming a new Chief Electoral Commissioner.

As political parties ramp up internal democratic processes in preparation for the 2028 presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections, the choice of Konneh’s replacement is being closely watched.

Whoever assumes the role will be tasked with overseeing the crucial 2028 elections, a process likely to be under intense scrutiny given the contentious nature of the last polls. The 2023 elections, which were conducted under Konneh’s leadership, sparked significant controversy, especially from the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party. The APC and several national and international observers questioned the integrity and outcome of the vote, triggering a political impasse.

Related News

In response to the disputed results, the APC instructed its elected Members of Parliament, Mayors, Chairpersons, Deputies, and Councilors to boycott governance at all levels. This political standoff led to the intervention of the Independent Commission for Peace and national dialogue efforts, supported by international mediators including the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

A three-day peace dialogue at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown in October 2023 culminated in the signing of a Communique that included eight resolutions aimed at restoring democratic governance and national cohesion. These resolutions included a public peace broadcast by President Bio and the return of the APC’s elected officials to their respective offices. Most notably, the agreement established a Tripartite Committee, which reviewed the electoral process and later submitted 80 key recommendations to President Bio in July 2024 for consideration and implementation.

As the President prepares to appoint the next ECSL Commissioner, political stakeholders and the wider public await a decision that could shape the democratic trajectory of Sierra Leone in the years ahead. The selection process is expected to be both politically sensitive and nationally significant, with the credibility of future elections likely resting on the new Commissioner’s ability to deliver transparent and inclusive polls.