Renowned Sierra Leonean lawyer and gender equality advocate, Basita Michael, has taken aim at the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) over the complete absence of women in its newly elected slate of district chairpersons for the 2025 electoral cycle.

The outcome of the internal party elections, which saw only men selected to lead at the district level, has drawn sharp criticism from Michael, who described it as a stark contradiction to the government’s proclaimed stance on gender inclusion.

In a statement issued in response to the development, Michael accused the SLPP of double standards. “The party promotes itself internationally as a trailblazer in women’s empowerment, boasting about radical inclusion and progressive legal reforms. Yet, this election outcome reveals a glaring gap between rhetoric and reality,” she said.

Michael further argued that if the SLPP genuinely prioritized gender equity, it would have taken action to challenge or rectify the male-only results. She warned that the failure to do so undermines the credibility of the government’s commitment to gender equality and perpetuates entrenched structural barriers that limit women’s participation in leadership.

Her remarks come at a time when expectations for meaningful representation of women in political spaces are high, especially given the government’s own public messaging on inclusion and empowerment.