FREETOWN* – President Julius Maada Bio has reaffirmed that he will not contest for a third term in office, saying Sierra Leone’s constitutional two-term limit will prevail.
Speaking during an interview at the opening of Unstoppable Africa 2026 in New York this week, President Bio dismissed speculation that he was planning to extend his stay in office.
“Whispers are always there, but I want to stand by my words that I am not running for a third term,” Bio said, stressing that the country’s constitutional term limits would guide the transition.
The President, who was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in June 2023, is serving his second and final term, which is due to end in 2028.
His remarks come amid heightened public debate in Sierra Leone over the 2028 presidential election and the succession race within the ruling SLPP. At the party’s National Delegates Conference, Bio had told supporters: “No party has won elections in Sierra Leone three times in a row. We are going to do it,” a comment that sparked interpretations about his future plans.
There has also been controversy around the ongoing constitutional review process. The government says the review, which stems from recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), is aimed at reshaping Sierra Leone’s democratic future and making the 1991 Constitution more responsive to current realities.
However, opposition APC lawmakers and some civil society groups have expressed concern that proposed amendments, including lowering the presidential winning threshold from 55% to 50% plus one, could be self-serving. Last month, APC MPs staged a walkout from Parliament during debate on the amendments.
President Bio has consistently rejected claims that the review is meant to remove term limits. His Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, has told stakeholders the process is “not merely a revision of legal documentation but a transformative journey.”
The President’s latest assurance that he will step down in 2028 is expected to shift focus fully to the contest for the next SLPP flagbearer, with several senior party figures already positioning themselves for the race.
Under Section 46(1) of the 1991 Constitution, a person who has held office as President for two terms is not eligible to contest again.
