By Saidu Jalloh, Reporter D.S
Parliament has put off further debate on the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025 until Friday, July 31, 2026, after a marathon and contentious session that ran from Tuesday morning into the early hours of Wednesday.
The Bill seeks to introduce major changes to the 1991 Constitution, including district-block proportional representation, fixed election dates, provision for independent presidential candidates, and a 30% quota for women nominees.
Lawmakers clashed over the scope and timing of the reforms, with some arguing the amendments are long overdue while others raised concerns about their potential impact on the electoral process.
Presenting Committee recommendations, House leaders said most of the proposed electoral provisions are already provided for in existing laws. One senior legislator described the Bill as “not partisan, but generational,” saying it is aimed at strengthening democratic governance for the future.
The current constitutional review stems from recommendations made more than two decades ago in the 1999 Lomé Peace Agreement and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report. Both documents urged a review of the 1991 Constitution to deepen democracy and prevent a relapse into conflict.
Parliament is expected to reconvene on July 31 to continue debate, with the Bill’s provisions on gender representation and electoral restructuring likely to dominate discussions.
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