The leadership of the All People’s Congress (APC) met with the United Nations Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) in Freetown to discuss the implementation of key recommendations from the Tripartite Committee’s Report. The focus of the meeting was to ensure free, fair, and transparent general elections in Sierra Leone in 2028.
The APC leadership engaged with members of the UN Needs Assessment Mission, which included experts from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and other international development partners. These may have included representatives from the Commonwealth and Sierra Leone’s Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC).
The meeting reviewed progress on the Agreement for National Unity, signed on October 18, 2023, between the Government of Sierra Leone and the APC. The agreement aims to foster national cohesion and address concerns around electoral integrity and governance reform.
Central to the discussions was the Tripartite Committee’s Report, which is believed to contain critical recommendations for electoral reform and governance improvements. These reforms aim to address irregularities seen in previous elections, including the alleged voter fraud during the 2023 elections. The dialogue focused on how best to implement these recommendations to improve the credibility of the 2028 electoral process.
This meeting builds on the outcomes of the Joint Monitoring Mission held from October 15–18, 2024, which was led by UNOWAS Special Representative Leonardo Santos Simão and former Gambian Vice President Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang. That mission engaged a broad range of stakeholders including the APC, the Government of Sierra Leone, the judiciary, security forces, and civil society organizations to review progress on the Agreement for National Unity.
The Tripartite Committee’s recommendations likely address key issues such as voter registration, prevention of electoral fraud, and institutional transparency. For the APC, a major opposition party, these reforms are critical in restoring confidence in the electoral process.
The active involvement of the UNDP and UNOWAS signals sustained international support for Sierra Leone’s democratic development. The UNDP brings technical expertise in governance and electoral systems, while UNOWAS ensures regional peace and political stability.
The NAM’s inclusive consultations with political parties, government bodies, and civil society aim to build broad consensus around reforms. This ensures that the APC’s concerns, along with those of other actors, are considered in the implementation process.
The APC-UN NAM meeting marks another important step in Sierra Leone’s journey toward credible and peaceful elections in 2028. The continued collaboration between national stakeholders and international partners underscores the shared commitment to strengthening democracy and fostering national unity.