The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has agreed to immediately end its months-long boycott of parliament and local councils after the government committed to restructuring the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) by December 31, 2026, according to a joint statement issued by international mediators on April 20.

The breakthrough came during a week-long assessment mission to Freetown by the International Moral Guarantors — comprising ECOWAS, UNOWAS, and the Commonwealth — who facilitated dialogue between the government and APC leadership from April 13-20, 2026.

Under point VII of the agreement reached during the mediated talks, “The Parties commit to implement electoral reforms as contained in the Tripartite Committee Recommendations, in particular recommendation 36. The Parties commit to restructure the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) within the framework and principles of the ANU not later than 31 December 2026.”

The statement further noted that “where there is undue delay in implementing the reforms within the agreed timelines the parties and moral guarantors will reconvene to review the situation” — a provision addressing APC concerns about government compliance.

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The APC launched its governance boycott in February 2026 following President Julius Maada Bio’s appointment of Edmond Sylvester Alpha as Chief Electoral Commissioner. The party maintained that the appointment violated the 2023 Agreement for National Unity (ANU) and specifically Recommendation 36 of the Tripartite Committee report, which calls for amending Sections 32 and 34 of the Constitution to establish an independent search and nomination committee for ECSL appointments.

The political deadlock originated from the disputed 2023 general elections, which led to the signing of the Agreement for National Unity between the government and APC in October 2023. A Tripartite Committee subsequently issued 80 recommendations for electoral, institutional, and legal reforms in June 2024.

APC leaders had characterized the Alpha appointment as a “direct violation” of these commitments. At an April 13 meeting with the Moral Guarantors, APC National Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya reportedly warned that “this is the last window for credible action,” asserting that the ANU process had “collapsed” in substance.

The boycott significantly disrupted legislative business, with Speaker of Parliament Segepoh Solomon Thomas holding emergency talks with opposition leaders in late March in an attempt to restore parliamentary stability.

Beyond ECSL restructuring, the agreement includes:

  • Urgent constitution of a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Electoral Matters to oversee electoral preparedness ahead of 2028
  • Expansion of the Tripartite Steering Committee to include broader political and civil society representation
  • Formation of a legal experts team on constitutional and legislative reforms with APC representation

The International Moral Guarantors welcomed the commitments while urging “all political leaders, political parties’ executives, supporters, and all citizens to exercise restraint and refrain from the use and/or propagation of hate speech” to de-escalate current political tensions.

The APC’s return to governance is expected to clear the way for parliamentary action on pending constitutional amendments, including The Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which addresses electoral system reforms ahead of the 2028 general elections.