Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat (TSCS) continues to make significant strides in implementing recommendations from the Tripartite Report and the Unity Agreement.
This was highlighted during a briefing by Ngolo Katta, Coordinator of the Tripartite Secretariat, to Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, at his Guma Building office on Thursday.
Katta reported that the Independent Management and Functional Review of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) has been completed and is set for an official launch in April 2025.
Concurrently, reviews are underway for the Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC), the Independent Police Partnership Board (IPPB), and the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), with expected completion in three months.
The Public Service Reform Unit (PSRU) is spearheading these reviews, deploying teams to manage the process. At a recent entrance meeting at SLBC on March 17, 2025, PSRU presented a comprehensive outline of the review process, focusing on operational inefficiencies, administrative weaknesses, and the institution’s outdated technology. SLBC continues to rely on obsolete transmitters, causing weak TV and radio signals with limited reach.
Legal and Electoral Reforms in Progress
The Attorney General and the Tripartite Secretariat also discussed provisions within the Unity Agreement, particularly Resolution 4. As part of this, ten cases under trial in Makeni have been dropped, with one of three accused individuals in Freetown acquitted, while two others await sentencing. The Attorney General’s Office is exploring options to resolve these cases in accordance with the agreement.
Further, 17 tripartite recommendations align with provisions in the constitutional review whitepaper. A cabinet paper will be submitted this week for approval of these reforms. Plans are in place to form a Legal Team, including an international legal expert, to conduct technical discussions and stakeholder consultations nationwide. International IDEA has pledged support for this initiative.
Other legislative reviews, including the IMC Act, Cyber Security Act, SLBC Act, and Police Act, will be managed by their respective ministries in coordination with the TSCS. The Law Reform Commission is nearing completion of the Police Act review. Additionally, the Attorney General has proposed a concept note to guide a national dialogue on electoral system reforms ahead of the 2028 elections.
Engagement with Development Partners
On March 28, 2025, Katta updated a technical committee of development partners, including the EU, Iceland Embassy, Ireland Embassy, International IDEA, US Embassy, DAI, and UNDP, at the European Delegation offices at Leicester Peak. The committee expressed satisfaction with progress and requested a copy of the cabinet paper approving reviews for the PPRC and Elections Act. They also inquired about steps taken to establish a parliamentary oversight committee on elections.
Katta has scheduled a meeting with parliamentary leadership to discuss Resolution 20, which calls for a dedicated electoral oversight committee in Parliament to review the electoral cycle, assess preparedness, and guide legislative reforms.
Strengthening Collaboration for Civic Education
On March 11, 2025, Katta hosted the Moral Guarantors of the Unity Agreement at his office on Wesley Street, Freetown. Hawa Samai, Chairperson of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), led the delegation. Updates on Resolution 4 were provided, with plans to brief international moral guarantors, including the African Union, the Commonwealth, ECOWAS, and the EU.
In a related development on March 18, 2025, the Chairman of the National Council for Civic Education and Development (NACCED), Joseph Munda Bindi, met with the Tripartite Secretariat to establish a partnership focused on civic education initiatives related to the Tripartite Report. This collaboration aims to ensure coherent messaging that resonates with the public.
Upcoming Engagements
In the coming weeks, the TSCS will hold meetings with key stakeholders, including the All People’s Congress (APC), the All Political Party Association (APPA), the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), and civil society leaders. These engagements seek to advance the implementation of tripartite recommendations and enhance public awareness efforts.
