By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Vice President of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, held a crucial engagement with Mayors and District Chairpersons from APC-led councils and municipalities as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the current local governance stalemate.
Speaking in his capacity as Chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Decentralization and Local Governance (IMC), the Vice President disclosed that the meeting focused on finding a swift and practical solution to the political impasse currently affecting the operations of several local councils.
He emphasized that the discussions were driven by a shared commitment to ensuring that councils across the country remain fully functional and continue delivering essential services to citizens without disruption.
According to him, both sides expressed a strong mutual desire to see an urgent resolution of the issues at hand, noting that the ability of local councils to effectively serve communities must remain a top national priority.
The Vice President further revealed that the meeting ended on a positive note, with all parties demonstrating strong commitment to sustaining dialogue through continued engagements aimed at fostering consensus and strengthening cooperation.
He encouraged all stakeholders to make full use of the distinct role of the IMC as a credible platform for dialogue, mediation, and joint problem-solving in pursuit of Sierra Leone’s broader local development objectives.
Dr. Jalloh stressed that decentralization remains central to improving service delivery and advancing development at the grassroots level, urging political actors, council leaders, and institutional stakeholders to place the interests of citizens above partisan considerations.
He reminded all parties that leadership at both national and local levels must remain rooted in public service, underscoring that the ultimate responsibility of governance is to improve the lives of the people.
“We must always remember that we are in service to our citizens,” the Vice President stated, reinforcing the need for collaboration, peace, and institutional dialogue in addressing governance challenges affecting local councils.
