By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope
Freetown, April 20, 2026 The opposition All Peoples Congress has struck an agreement with the government and international mediators to restructure the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone by year-end, easing tensions over stalled electoral reforms.
The deal was reached after crisis talks held from April 14 to April 19, brokered by International Moral Guarantors. It comes amid APC protests over the non-implementation of Tripartite Committee recommendations and concerns that key ECSL leadership decisions were moving ahead without safeguards.
In a statement released April 19, the APC said the resolution mandates an overhaul of the ECSL, including a review of its leadership framework to restore credibility and public trust. The party had warned that unilateral action on the commission posed a “serious threat to democratic stability.”
The APC described the agreement as a decision taken for peace and democratic stability but cautioned against delays. “There must be no misunderstanding that the APC will not accept indefinite delays, procedural excuses, or superficial compliance that fails to address the substance of the agreed reforms,” the statement read.
Beyond the ECSL overhaul, the government committed to an inclusive, all-stakeholder approach on using 2026 Population and Housing Census data for electoral planning and representation. The APC also called for parliamentary and legislative reforms to give legal effect to the wider agenda.
Acknowledging supporter frustration, the party said many were “prepared to take action” over recent developments. It urged members at home and in the diaspora to remain calm, disciplined, and united, citing the new monitoring framework and set timelines.
Implementation will face a joint review by the APC and government under International Moral Guarantors at the end of December 2026 to assess compliance.
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