Freetown, Sierra Leone — In a sharp escalation of political tensions at the Freetown City Council, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has firmly dismissed reports that Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) councillors have elected an acting mayor, insisting the move has no legal basis under the Local Government Act (LGA) 2022.
The Mayor, from the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), quoted Section 16(3) of the Act, which states that in the absence of both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, councillors may only vote for one of their own to preside over a specific council meeting. It does not allow for the creation or assumption of an “Acting Mayor” position with executive powers to oversee municipal operations.
She further argued that the SLPP councillors lack the required quorum to even convene a valid council meeting, rendering any such election invalid.
“The LGA 2022 does not provide for an ACTING MAYOR,” Aki-Sawyerr stated. “Per Sect 16(3) councillors can only vote for a councillor to preside over a COUNCIL MEETING in the ABSENCE of the Mayor & Deputy.”
The dispute erupted after SLPP councillors announced their nominee to manage the city’s day-to-day affairs, citing the ongoing boycott of governance activities by Mayor Aki-Sawyerr and other APC councillors. SLPP Publicity Secretary Moses Mambu confirmed that the proposed acting mayor would be presented to the party and government authorities to “steer council operations” until the substantive mayor returns.
Background to the Boycott
The APC’s withdrawal from governance stems from a broader political protest announced in late February 2026. The opposition party directed its elected official, including MPs, mayors, councillors, and others—to boycott government structures in response to the ruling SLPP administration’s handling of recommendations from the Cross-Party Tripartite Committee. The committee was formed to address the fallout from the disputed 2023 general elections.
A key trigger has been the government’s decision to adopt a Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system, which the APC claims followed only “limited dialogue” and lacked genuine consultation. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr has publicly confirmed her participation in the boycott while maintaining that she remains the elected Mayor of Freetown and continues to use her official vehicle.
What This Means for Freetown
The standoff has created uncertainty over the administration of Sierra Leone’s capital, raising concerns about service delivery, waste management, market operations, and other essential municipal functions. SLPP supporters frame the move as an “emergency plan” to restore basic governance in the face of the APC boycott, while APC figures view it as an illegal attempt to undermine a democratically elected mayor.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr has stressed that she can only be removed from office through established legal processes, not by a unilateral decision of a section of councillors. Legal experts and political observers are now closely watching whether the matter will escalate to the courts or prompt intervention from the Ministry of Local Government.
This latest development underscores the persistent deep divisions between Sierra Leone’s two main political parties, SLPP and APC, which continue to affect governance at both national and local levels more than two years after the controversial 2023 polls.
