Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio has directed that next year’s parliamentary elections be conducted under the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system.

The head of the electoral commission, Mohamed Konneh, has told me that the District Block system of PR will be used. Under it, political parties will draw up lists of those they want to represent in parliament each of the country’s 16 districts, and will gain seats based on the percentage of popular votes secured in each district.

Unlike in 2002 when the same system was used, Independent candidates will be allowed this time, sources say.