FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE – 29 April 2026 – The Lawyers’ Society Sierra Leone has expressed deep concern over Parliament’s decision to pass a new National Security and Central Intelligence Bill into law without the participation of opposition members, calling on His Excellency the President to withhold assent pending comprehensive, bipartisan deliberation.
In a press release issued today, the Society stated that the exclusion of key stakeholders from critical legislative processes raises serious questions about the nation’s collective commitment to inclusive governance and undermines the spirit of the national unity agreement, which its moral guarantors recently reaffirmed.
“At a time when Sierra Leone requires strengthened unity and cooperation across political lines, the exclusion of key stakeholders from critical legislative processes risks eroding public confidence in democratic institutions,” the statement read. “Good governance demands that transparency, inclusivity, and respect for established democratic norms must guide all lawmaking processes.”
Concerns Over Immunity Provisions
The Society further expressed alarm over the establishment of the State Protection Service under a legal framework that includes provisions for immunity against criminal prosecution.
“Such provisions, in our considered view, are inconsistent with the Constitution of Sierra Leone and pose a direct challenge to the foundational principle that all persons and institutions are subject to the law,” the Lawyers’ Society stated.
While acknowledging and supporting the need for effective security arrangements to protect the Presidency, Vice Presidency, and other critical national offices, the Society cautioned against “the unchecked proliferation of security entities, particularly where such bodies may operate with limited accountability.”
Call to Action
The Lawyers’ Society Sierra Leone respectfully called on the President to withhold assent to the Act pending:
· Comprehensive, bipartisan deliberation
· A more inclusive parliamentary process
The Society argued that such a course of action would reaffirm the government’s commitment to constitutionalism, accountability, and national cohesion.
“A democratic society governed by the rule of law must ensure that no institution is placed above legal scrutiny,” the statement concluded.
Background
The vote took place without opposition members, who recently announced their return to Parliament following a communiqué issued by the International Moral Guarantors. The Lawyers’ Society’s intervention adds to growing calls for inclusive governance and adherence to the national unity agreement.
The Society reaffirmed its steadfast dedication to promoting justice, upholding the rule of law, and advancing the best interests of all citizens.
