FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — The Government of Sierra Leone has reported significant progress in implementing key governance reforms under the Agreement for National Unity (ANU) and the Tripartite Committee process, initiatives aimed at strengthening political dialogue and improving governance across the country.
According to David Moinina Sengeh, Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister and Chair of the Steering Committee responsible for implementing the Tripartite Committee report, both processes are contributing to efforts to deepen democratic governance and promote national development.
The Agreement for National Unity, signed in 2023 between the government and the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), contains eight resolutions designed to ease political tensions and encourage collaboration between the country’s major political actors. One of the resolutions established a group of “moral guarantors” tasked with supporting and monitoring the implementation of the agreement.
Chief Minister Sengeh said reports from the guarantors indicate that the resolutions have been fully implemented. He added that Sierra Leone will host the guarantor team in April 2026 for a comprehensive review of the progress made under the agreement.
Resolution Three of the ANU created the Tripartite Committee, which later produced about 80 recommendations intended to reform aspects of governance, including electoral and institutional processes.
To oversee the implementation of these recommendations, the government set up a steering committee chaired by the Chief Minister. The committee held its first quarterly meeting of the year, bringing together a broad range of stakeholders including ministers, mayors and local council leaders, paramount chiefs, civil society representatives, development partners, and professional bodies.
Among those represented were the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, the Sierra Leone Bar Association, and the United Nations, represented by the UN Resident Coordinator.
However, members of parliament from both the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the opposition APC, as well as mayors and council chairpersons from APC-controlled councils, were absent from the meeting. The government said it remains committed to maintaining open dialogue and encouraged all stakeholders to participate in future discussions.
During the meeting, progress updates were presented by the Attorney General’s office, the Tripartite Secretariat, the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, the Ministry of Information, and the Public Sector Reform Unit.
Officials reported that substantial progress has been made in implementing the recommendations, including constitutional reform measures currently before Parliament. The updated implementation report has been published on the website of the Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat.
Participants also recommended extending the lifespan of the steering committee by at least six months to allow for further monitoring and evaluation of the reforms and to update its terms of reference.
Sengeh noted that several key institutions, including the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, the Office of National Security, and the Political Parties Regulation Commission, have already taken major steps toward implementing aspects of the Tripartite recommendations.
He said the reforms demonstrate the government’s commitment to strengthening governance and fostering national development through dialogue and cooperation among political actors.
