Sierra Leone Parliament Advances Constitution Amendment Bill

Parliament in Sierra Leone has moved the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, from its second reading into the committee stage after an intensive session that ran from July 28 into the early hours of July 29. The bill, presented by Attorney‑General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay, seeks to modernise the 1991 constitution, shifting it from a “constitution of survival” to a “constitution of prosperity.”

The proposal has sparked a heated debate between the government and opposition lawmakers. The government argues the reforms will strengthen democracy and improve political inclusion, while the opposition warns that changes to electoral provisions—such as the switch from proportional representation to first‑past‑the‑post and the lack of a formal presidential transition period—could alter Sierra Leone’s democratic landscape. Critics also question whether some amendments require a referendum. The bill draws on previous reform efforts, including the Justice Edmond Cowan Constitutional Review Committee Report of 2013 and the Tripartite Committee recommendations involving the All People’s Congress and other stakeholders.