Attorney General Updates Public On Constitutional Review Process
By Catherine Dumbuya
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, organized its weekly press conference at the Miatta Conference Hall, providing a comprehensive briefing on Sierra Leone’s constitutional review process and the proposed Constitutional Bill.
Speaking at the conference, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay Esq. outlined the history, purpose and progress of the constitutional review, which he said has been tabled in Parliament. He traced Sierra Leone’s constitutional journey from the 1978 Constitution, which entrenched a one-party state, to its later review and amendment that restored multiparty democracy under the 1991 Constitution.
Sesay explained that the 1991 Constitution introduced key democratic principles, including the separation of powers among the executive, legislature and judiciary, as well as provisions on human rights. However, he noted that its implementation was disrupted by the outbreak of the civil war.
He further stated that the 1999 Lomé Peace Agreement, particularly Article 10, recommended a review of the 1991 Constitution. This recommendation contributed to the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2004, tasked with documenting the causes and consequences of the war, promoting national reconciliation and preventing a recurrence of conflict.
According to the attorney general, the 1991 Constitution no longer fully addresses the aspirations of Sierra Leoneans. He emphasized that the constitutional review process is aimed at producing a stronger, more inclusive constitution that will enhance governance and reflect the nation’s commitment to democratic development.
