The Lawyers’ Society of Sierra Leone has issued a strong statement questioning the government’s recent announcement to establish two new districts and restructure existing localities, warning that the move lacks legal and demographic justification and may serve political interests rather than national development goals.
The statement follows a declaration by the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Tamba Lamina, that Cabinet has approved the creation of Bandajuma (within Bo and Pujehun Districts) and Kpanguma (within Kenema and Kailahun Districts) as new districts.
Additionally, the government intends to split Freetown into two localities, divide the Western Area Rural District into three, and declare Lungi a city due to its proximity to the Freetown International Airport.In its press release, the Lawyers’ Society expressed deep concern that such a significant restructuring is being undertaken before the next constitutionally scheduled decennial Population and Housing Census in December 2026, raising doubts about the legitimacy and data-driven basis of the decision.
The Society cited Section 38(4) of the 1991 Constitution, which mandates that electoral boundary reviews must be informed by census data, and Section 2(2) of the Local Government Act 2022, which requires that new localities can only be declared on the advice of the Minister of Finance and the Electoral Commissioner—factors that must consider population density and other statistical indicators.
“The timing suggests that the Government’s decision is not informed by up-to-date demographic data,” the statement read. “We believe this move is politically motivated and risks undermining the integrity of the upcoming 2026 census.
”The Society further noted that there is no public evidence or data to indicate that existing administrative structures—such as the current configuration of Freetown—are responsible for inefficiencies in local governance. Instead, it pointed to incomplete devolution of power and delays in budgetary allocations from the central government as the real challenges stalling effective local administration.
“The priority should be on fully implementing devolution and ensuring adequate resources for local councils, rather than creating new districts and localities amidst the economic challenges we are currently facing,” the Society stated.Cautioning against what it views as politically motivated redistricting, the Lawyers’ Society drew parallels with the aftermath of the 2015 census, when the then APC government created two new districts in their political strongholds.
The Society now sees a similar pattern in the SLPP government’s decision to create two districts within its own support base in the southeast.> “We strongly oppose the use of district creation for political gain,” the statement emphasized, warning that such actions may set a dangerous precedent for retaliatory boundary manipulation.
The Lawyers’ Society concluded by reaffirming its commitment to upholding the rule of law, calling on the Government to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that any administrative reforms are legally grounded, evidence-based, and designed in the best interest of all Sierra Leoneans.
“We stand ready and willing to collaborate with government and relevant authorities to ensure that administrative reforms meet legal standards and are enforced in the best interest of all Sierra Leoneans,” the Society affirmed.
