The All People’s Congress (APC) has held a high-level meeting with the Moral Guarantors of the Agreement for National Unity (ANU) and the Tripartite Committee recommendations, in renewed efforts to address Sierra Leone’s ongoing political impasse and stalled reform process.
The meeting, which brought together senior political leaders, negotiators, and international facilitators, opened with individual prayers followed by formal introductions before deliberations began.
Opening the APC’s position, National Secretary General Lawyer Lansana Dumbuya declared that “this is the last window for credible action,” warning that the ANU and Tripartite Committee process had, in substance, “collapsed.” He referenced the Moral Guarantors’ earlier intervention at Bintumani, which he said convinced the APC to return to governance and accept difficult compromises in the interest of national stability.
Dumbuya stated that while the APC acted in good faith despite internal resistance, he argued that the goodwill extended by the party had not been reciprocated. He further raised concerns over what he described as his unlawful detention for questioning electoral credibility, warning that failure to resolve outstanding issues could render the entire Bintumani process unsuccessful.
Acting APC National Chairman, Ambassador Dr. Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh, revisited the political deadlock following the 2023 elections, which the party continues to describe as flawed. He said this led to the establishment of the ANU and Tripartite Committee under Resolution 3 to review the elections and propose corrective measures.
He, however, expressed concern over delays and what the APC described as unilateral actions undermining the agreement. Citing recent developments, he referenced the appointment of Edmond Sylvester Alpha, which the party claims conflicts with Recommendation 36 of the Tripartite report. He also alleged constitutional breaches in the appointment of the Chief Electoral Commissioner without consultation of political parties, alongside concerns over politically motivated legal cases and the APC’s ongoing boycott of governance activities.
Ambassador Yansaneh also cited the sentencing of opposition supporter Zainab Sheriff to four years in prison as part of what the party described as continued politically charged actions during the mediation process.
APC Chief Negotiator, Dr. Kaifala Marrah, criticized what he called the weakening of trust in the reform process ahead of the 2028 elections, pointing to alleged non-compliance by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), lack of transparency in the civil register, and concerns over the proportional representation system.
Leonard Balogun Koroma, Chairman of the APC 2026 Census Committee, raised concerns over the postponement of the 2025 national census, questioning reliance on 2021 mid-term data and warning that limited transparency could affect future constituency delimitation and electoral credibility.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, speaking on the Tripartite Steering Committee, provided an update on ongoing coordination efforts aimed at maintaining momentum within the reform process despite existing challenges.
Parliamentary Minority Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo highlighted concerns over the APC’s exclusion from international parliamentary representation and called for the establishment of a dedicated parliamentary oversight committee on electoral management bodies, as recommended in the Tripartite report. He also referenced the party’s cooperation in constitutional reform discussions as evidence of good faith.
The Legal Adviser’s office, represented by Deputy Legal Adviser Africanus Sorie Sesay, presented updates on the Constitutional Amendments Bill.
In conclusion, Ambassador Yansaneh reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to peaceful dialogue, stressing that sustainable peace must be anchored on justice, trust, and credible electoral systems.
Responding on behalf of the Moral Guarantors, H.E. Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang expressed appreciation for the APC’s detailed submission, noting concerns about the functionality of the Tripartite Secretariat and describing the ANU framework as a “moral instrument” requiring collective responsibility.
She assured that the mission would carefully review submissions from both the APC and government stakeholders, with the aim of building a common position that promotes peace, stability, and national cohesion. She further reaffirmed the guarantors’ commitment to addressing the root causes of the political impasse and encouraging continued dialogue among all parties.
Both sides agreed to reconvene on Thursday, 16 April 2026, in a smaller technical setting to begin addressing the most critical outstanding issues.
