SIERRA LEONE · COURTS AND POLITICS
Key Facts
- —The country Sierra Leone is a West African republic led by President Julius Maada Bio, with presidential and parliamentary elections due in 2028.
- —What happened On Tuesday 20 October 2026, the Supreme Court refused the government’s request to dismiss three consolidated cases over a constitutional amendment bill.
- —The ruling Chief Justice Komba Kamanda held that the Court has jurisdiction and ordered the main hearing to go ahead without further side applications.
- —The dispute Challengers say the bill needed 100 votes in the 149-seat Parliament, while the opposition says it passed with 96 on Monday 10 August.
- —The stakes The bill would cut the share of votes a presidential candidate needs to win outright from 55% to 50% plus one vote.
- —US link The United States has a US$480 million energy compact with Sierra Leone, and its travel advisory for the country stays at Level 2.
- —Still open No date is public for the main hearing or a final ruling, and President Bio has not said whether he will sign the bill.
The Sierra Leone court at the top of the judiciary, the Supreme Court, refused on Tuesday 20 October 2026 to throw out three cases. The cases challenge how Parliament passed a constitutional amendment bill.
Sierraloaded, a Freetown news site, reported that the main hearing will now go ahead. For US readers, the case tests the rule of law in a country that receives American aid, and it shapes the 2028 election rules.
What the Sierra Leone Court Decided on Tuesday
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda, who heads Sierra Leone’s judiciary, ruled that the Sierra Leone court has jurisdiction over the cases. He called the government’s request an attempt to forestall proceedings after directions had already been issued, Sierraloaded reported.
The Court said it will hear no more side applications from lawyers and will deal with any other issues at the main hearing. Kamanda cited the need for a timely decision on the matter.
What the Government Argued
The Law Officers’ Department, the government’s legal office under the Attorney-General, filed its motion on Friday 16 October. Joseph Sesay, a senior state counsel, swore the supporting affidavit that day, Sierraloaded said.
The motion argued that the Court cannot judge a bill before the president signs it. It also cited Section 94(2) of the 1991 Constitution, which bars courts from inquiring into the proceedings of Parliament.
Why Three Cases Reached the Court
The three cases were merged on Thursday 8 October. They were brought by three opposition lawmakers, the All People’s Congress and two citizens, Thomas Moore Conteh and Tamba Kellie.
The All People’s Congress, known as the APC, is the main opposition party and governed until 2018. Its lawyers argue that the Speaker of Parliament wrongly allowed a simple majority to pass a constitutional change on Monday 10 August.
The Vote Count at the Heart of the Dispute
Parliament has 149 members, and Section 108 of the Constitution requires two thirds of them to approve an amendment. The challengers say that means at least 100 votes.
The APC said the bill passed with 96 votes after its lawmakers walked out of the chamber. The Speaker ruled that a simple majority of members present was enough for the individual provisions.
What the Amendment Bill Would Change
The best-known clause would lower the share of votes a candidate needs to win the presidency in round one from 55% to 50% plus one. A lower bar makes a second round less likely in a close race.
The new rules would apply to the 2028 election, when President Bio must step down after two terms. Bio asked the Supreme Court for its opinion on 14 September, under Section 122 of the Constitution.
What It Means for US Readers
Sierra Leone has a US$480 million energy compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US government aid agency. A dispute over election rules can affect how Washington and other donors view the country’s governance.
The US State Department keeps Sierra Leone at Level 2, exercise increased caution, and warns that protests can start with little notice. The case has already seen the jailing of opposition lawyer Joseph Kamara for contempt on Thursday 8 October.
What Is Not Known
No date has been published for the main hearing, and the Sierra Leone court has not said when it will give a final ruling. It is also open whether the Court will answer the president’s own request for an opinion in the same hearing.
President Bio has not announced whether he will sign the bill. The court said the 20 October hearing would not be broadcast live, and it has not said whether the main hearing will be.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Sierra Leone court decide on 20 October?
The Sierra Leone court, the Supreme Court, rejected the government’s request to dismiss three consolidated cases. Chief Justice Komba Kamanda ruled that the Court has jurisdiction and that the main hearing will continue.
What are the three cases about?
They ask the Sierra Leone court to review the Speaker’s ruling on how Parliament passed a constitutional amendment bill on Monday 10 August. The challengers say the bill needed two thirds of all lawmakers, or at least 100 votes.
What would the bill change for the next election?
It would lower the share of votes needed to win the presidency in the first round from 55% to 50% plus one vote. The change is meant to apply to the 2028 election.
Has the president signed the bill?
No, President Julius Maada Bio has not signed it. He has asked the Sierra Leone court for its opinion before he decides.
Is it safe to travel to Sierra Leone now?
The US State Department rates Sierra Leone at Level 2, exercise increased caution. It warns of frequent street crime and of protests that can start with little warning.
Sources: Sierraloaded, Supreme Court rejects government’s request to dismiss constitutional amendment cases, 20 October 2026; Sierraloaded, why the Supreme Court should throw out the cases, government argues, 20 October 2026; Sierraloaded, Supreme Court stops live coverage of the hearing, 20 October 2026; Sierra Eye Magazine, APC rejects constitutional amendment passage, 14 August 2026; US State Department, Sierra Leone travel advisory, 15 September 2025; Millennium Challenge Corporation, Sierra Leone, 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief