FREETOWN/UNITED STATES – Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., has announced sweeping reforms aimed at expanding electoral rights and modernizing the justice system, with a special focus on citizens living abroad.
Speaking at the Civic Day Series in the United States on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Sesay confirmed that new legislation will soon allow Sierra Leoneans to register and vote directly at the country’s embassies worldwide.
“These reforms will eliminate the burden of travelling back and forth to Sierra Leone just to register, verify, and vote,” Sesay explained. “Under the new system, you can complete the entire process right here in our embassy and elect those who represent you back home.”
The proposal was warmly received by diaspora communities, but the Attorney General urged them to actively lobby their Members of Parliament to ensure the bill gains approval when presented in Parliament.
Beyond electoral access, Sesay also outlined justice sector reforms under the new Criminal Procedure Act (CPA). The revised law will enforce strict timelines for judges to deliver rulings and introduce digital legal processes, including the online filing of motions and submission of witness testimonies.
A forthcoming Mediation Bill will further expand access to justice by allowing certified mediators to handle certain cases outside of court—an initiative reflecting recent surveys showing that up to 70 percent of Sierra Leoneans prefer out-of-court settlements.
“Justice is a service that the Government provides for the people of Sierra Leone,” Sesay said, adding that the reforms reflect President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to strengthening democracy and giving the diaspora a stronger voice in national decision-making.
