By. Joseph Momoh Conteh- Peking University, Justice Sector Coordination Office Introduction A year ago, on 1 September 2025, President Xi Jinping used the largest summit in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s history, held in the port city of Tianjin, to propose what he called the Global Governance Initiative. The world it entered has since grown rougher…
By: James Kamara-Manneh The implementation of Recommendation 38 of the Tripartite Committee Report has raised important questions about the timing of Sierra Leone’s next general elections and the possible political implications of the country’s 2026 census. Recommendation 38 addresses the use of census data for electoral purposes and boundary delimitation. It proposes that only data…
By: Reginald Brian Ojukutu Sawyerr The All People’s Congress (APC) has on Friday 14 August 2026, rejected and condemned what it describes as the purported passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill 2025, arguing that the process failed to meet the constitutional and legal requirements. The APC made its position known at a press conference held…
By James Kamara-Manneh Sierra Leone’s constitutional amendment process has entered a new legal and political phase following the passage of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Act, 2025 in Parliament amid a walkout by lawmakers of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC). The controversy centres on whether Parliament validly passed the constitutional amendment after…
By: James Kamara-Manneh President Julius Maada Bio’s State Opening Address to Parliament on 7 August 2026 was not simply a presentation of government achievements. It was, in many respects, an attempt to define the final phase of his administration around one central political message: the time for announcing plans is giving way to the time…
By: James Kamara-Manneh President Julius Maada Bio has called on Parliament to pass the Constitution of Sierra Leone Amendment Bill, arguing that the proposed reforms are necessary to strengthen democratic governance, increase political inclusion and address longstanding concerns over the country’s electoral system. In a national address, President Bio described the proposed legislation as the…
By James Kamara-Manneh The Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), in partnership with Christian Aid and the 50/50 Group Sierra Leone, has called for stronger accountability and gender-responsive management of revenue generated from Sierra Leone’s five-percent rice import duty. The call was made on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a National Advocacy Summit held at the New…
By James Kamara-Manneh Over the past decade, China has emerged as one of the world’s most influential economic and geopolitical powers under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Since assuming office in 2013, Xi has pursued an ambitious vision of national rejuvenation, economic modernization, technological innovation, and expanded global engagement. His leadership has significantly shaped…
By: Sorie Sesay The Ministry of Health, through its Directorate of Food and Nutrition, has called for stronger support for breastfeeding, describing it as one of the most effective and affordable ways to improve child survival, nutrition and national development. The call was made during a press conference held in Freetown on July 31 to…
By Aminata Kamara Alfred Kamanda has announced his decision to withdraw from the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) election race, citing disappointment over the outcome of the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). In a statement, Kamanda described the manner in which the AGM unfolded as a “huge disappointment,” saying the events had influenced his decision…