Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Sierra Leone government has stepped firmly into the escalating internal crisis at the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), ordering the incumbent executive to immediately reverse its indefinite postponement of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and proceed with elections for new leadership.
In a strongly worded letter dated 2 June 2026, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay, who serves as the Titular Head of the Sierra Leone Bar, directed the current SLBA executive to withdraw the postponement notice issued on 1 June 2026, set a firm date for the AGM, and notify all members through every available channel.
The AGM and executive elections had been scheduled for 5–6 June 2026 in Lungi, Port Loko District, before the sudden delay announcement.
Mandate Expired, Limited Powers Only
Sesay emphasized that the incumbent executive’s two-year mandate formally expired on 17 May 2026, in line with Article 20 of the SLBA’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. While Article 22 permits the President to remain in office until a successor is elected, the Attorney General described this as a narrow holdover provision that does not grant the expired executive authority to make substantive decisions, such as indefinitely postponing the AGM.
He further invoked Section 185(1) of the Companies Act 2009, which mandates that every company (including incorporated associations like the SLBA) must hold an AGM annually, with no more than 15 months between successive meetings. An indefinite postponement, Sesay argued, amounts to a de facto cancellation and a clear breach of both the law and the association’s own governing documents.
The letter restricts the current executive to routine administrative functions only, positioning it as a caretaker body until a new leadership is democratically elected.
Strong Warning and Broader Implications
Sesay warned that “several legal and constitutional options remain available” to enforce compliance with the Companies Act, the SLBA Articles, and the rule of law. The communication was copied to key officials, including the Deputy Minister of Justice, the Solicitor General, the Executive Director of the National Investment Board (NIB), and the Chairman of the General Legal Council. The NIB has also directed the Bar to proceed with the originally planned June 5–6 dates.
Background and Context
The dispute comes amid heightened scrutiny of the SLBA, traditionally viewed as a key guardian of the rule of law in Sierra Leone. Some members have pushed for greater independence and reform, with concerns raised about perceived closeness between parts of the legal fraternity and political power. Internal divisions appear to center on issues of continuity versus calls for fresh leadership and accountability.
Alpha Sesay, a respected human rights lawyer with experience at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, USAID, and international justice initiatives, was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice in December 2024. His intervention underscores the government’s interest in ensuring statutory compliance and orderly governance within the country’s premier legal body.
As of now, it remains unclear whether the SLBA executive will comply voluntarily or if further court action or regulatory steps will follow. The situation is being closely watched by legal professionals, civil society, and political observers, given the Bar Association’s influential role in upholding judicial independence and the rule of law in post-conflict Sierra Leone.
