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Sierra Leone’s Parliament has adjourned debate on the proposed Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, with further deliberations scheduled to continue on Monday, 10th August 2026.
The adjournment follows days of intensive clause-by-clause examination of the bill in the Well of Parliament, as lawmakers deliberate on key governance and electoral reforms contained in the proposed amendments.
The bill seeks to amend aspects of the 1991 Constitution and addresses several major issues relating to Sierra Leone’s electoral system, governance structure, and political participation.
Among the key areas under review is the proposed change to the presidential election threshold, with lawmakers debating whether the requirement for a candidate to secure 55% of the total votes cast should be reduced to a simple majority of 50% plus one vote.
Parliament has also continued discussions on the proposed introduction of the Proportional Representation (PR) system for parliamentary elections, including questions surrounding its implementation and operational framework.
The proposed amendments further include provisions requiring political parties to ensure that women make up at least 30% of their candidates for national and local government elections, a move aimed at promoting greater gender representation in political leadership.
Earlier in the debate, lawmakers rejected proposals that would have allowed independent candidates to contest presidential elections, maintaining the existing party-based nomination system for the country’s highest political office.
The constitutional review process is linked to recommendations from the post-2023 electoral review and the work of the cross-party Tripartite Committee established to examine electoral and governance-related issues.
When Parliament resumes on Monday, 10th August 2026, Members of Parliament are expected to continue deliberations on the remaining contentious clauses before the bill proceeds to the next stage of the legislative process.
