Efforts to resolve Sierra Leone’s ongoing local governance impasse intensified on Wednesday, as Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh engaged APC-led local council officials, while Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh issued a firm warning over continued absenteeism by opposition representatives.
Speaking in his capacity as Chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Decentralization and Local Governance (IMC), Jalloh met with mayors and district chairpersons from councils controlled by the opposition All People’s Congress (APC). The meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to break the political deadlock affecting the operations of several local councils.
According to the Vice President, discussions focused on identifying swift and practical solutions to ensure councils remain functional and continue delivering essential services. He stressed that both sides demonstrated a shared commitment to resolving the impasse, describing the engagement as constructive and forward-looking.
Jalloh underscored the importance of decentralization in improving service delivery and advancing grassroots development, urging political actors to prioritize citizens’ welfare over partisan interests. He also encouraged stakeholders to utilize the IMC as a credible platform for sustained dialogue, mediation, and consensus-building.
“We must always remember that we are in service to our citizens,” he said, reinforcing the need for cooperation and institutional engagement.
While dialogue efforts continue, the government is simultaneously adopting a firmer stance on absentee officials.
In a separate engagement with international moral guarantors of the Agreement for National Unity, Chief Minister Sengeh made clear that prolonged absence from Parliament and local councils would not be tolerated indefinitely.
He revealed that the government has already fulfilled its financial obligations by settling outstanding payments owed to Members of Parliament and councilors, including those who withdrew from active participation in 2023.
However, he cautioned that failure by the APC leadership to ensure the return of its members could trigger legal and administrative consequences.
“If this situation is not addressed, the government will be compelled to take appropriate measures,” Sengeh warned, including the possible withholding of salaries and benefits, alongside actions within the councils in accordance with the law.
He also pushed back against claims of a total boycott, noting that public offices and state resources linked to these positions continue to be utilized.
The dual-track approach, combining continued dialogue through the IMC with the threat of enforcement measures, highlights the government’s attempt to balance negotiation with accountability amid a prolonged political standoff.
At the center of the dispute is the partial disengagement of the APC from governance structures following the 2023 elections, a situation that has disrupted legislative and local council operations and raised concerns about service delivery at the community level.
With both sides signaling openness to engagement but holding firm positions, the coming weeks are likely to test whether dialogue can translate into a full return to institutional participation or whether the government will move ahead with punitive measures.
