- About one in four respondents (26%) say they have heard of the review of the country’s electoral system (Figure 1)
- Awareness is particularly low among people in the North (13%), women (16%), and rural residents (20%) (Figure 2).
- An overwhelming majority (93%) of citizens say governments should be required to promote regional and ethnic balance in making political appointments (Figure 3).
- Majorities say they would support their party if it decided to appoint people from other political parties (66%), regions (70%), and ethnic groups (73%) to key political positions (Figure 4).
More than nine in 10 Sierra Leoneans favour ethnic and regional balance in political appointments across all governments, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey.
Following the 2023 presidential election, the Tripartite Committee was established with a mandate to review Sierra Leone’s electoral and governance systems to foster greater transparency, political inclusion, and national cohesion.
As part of this process, the committee is facilitating a national conversation on which electoral system is best suited for the country, first-past-the-post or proportional representation – both of which have been employed during different elections since 1996. The debate culminated in a national dialogue on 17 July.
Survey findings from March-April 2025 show that only one in four citizens have heard of the electoral system review, with awareness especially low among citizens in the North, women, and rural residents.
Strong majorities say they would fully support their political party if it appointed individuals from other political parties, different regions, and diverse ethnic groups to key political positions.