By: Naomi Ndifon
On the 24th of June 2023, Sierra Leoneans gathered across 11,832 polling stations to elect their new President and Members of Parliament. Out of the 13 presidential candidates, incumbent President Julius Maada Bio, leader of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), won with 56% of the votes, avoiding a run-off and securing a second term as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. The results were, however, rejected by Dr Samura Kamara of the All People’s Congress (APC), who stated that they were not credible, citing irregularities and lack of transparency. The SLPP also secured 56.45% of the votes (81 out of the 135 seats at stake), with the APC receiving 45.67% (54 out of 135 seats.) Notably, the 2023 elections saw a record number of women elected to Parliament.
The elections occurred during high unemployment and inflation. There were also reports of growing violent rhetoric. Despite the challenges and rising tensions that arose from the late arrival of polling officials and election materials, some election observers described the voting processes as calm and peaceful. In contrast, other observers reported having witnessed violence at seven polling stations. In what was described as a controversial move, the President declared that a proportional representation system be used instead of the simple majority vote system previously applied in the 2023 parliamentary elections. The decision, reportedly taken without the consultation of other political parties and less than six months before the election, was challenged. The Supreme Court, however, upheld the decision.
As outlined in Sierra Leone’s 2008 Constitution, the President is the head of State and government and is elected by a popular vote of at least 55% to a maximum of two five-year terms. If a presidential candidate does not receive at least 55%, a second round is held in which the top two candidates compete. The 149-seat unicameral Parliament comprises 135 directly elected members by proportional representation in 16 districts. The 2023 elections represent the first time 135 members were elected compared to 132 representatives previously. In addition, Parliament also comprises 14 indirectly elected members from among Paramount Chiefs representing 14 provincial districts.
In recent years, Sierra Leone has adopted legislation advancing women’s political representation and participation. The 2021 Gender Empowerment Act mandates that “30% of constituency seats in each district are to be reserved exclusively for female candidates contesting parliamentary election.” Under the Gender Empowerment Act, the Electoral Commission can reject a party’s candidate list if it does not comply with the quota. The 2022 Gender Empowerment and Women’s Equality (GEWE) Act applies a 30% quota for elected (including parliamentary and local council seats) and appointed positions (cabinet and ministry positions, for example). Finally, the 2022 Public Elections Act requires that for every three candidates nominated for parliamentary elections, one must be a woman.
Women’s Political Participation
The total number of female parliamentarians increased significantly from 12.33% (18 out of 146 seats) in 2018 to 28.19% (42 out of 149 seats) following the 2023 elections. While the percentage of women directly elected increased, the number of women indirectly dropped. Women comprised 30.37% (41 out of 135 seats) of directly elected parliamentarians in 2023. In 2018, they made up 12.12% (16 out of 132 seats) of directly elected members. Of the 14 indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs, the number of women declined from two in 2018 to one in 2023. The adoption and implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act is believed to have contributed to the significant increase of female members of Parliament.
The 2023 parliamentary polls also represented the first time political party lists were required to include one woman for every two male candidates nominated, as stipulated in the Public Elections Act. The Act, however, does not have a ranking order, and reports indicate political parties interpreted this as “an authorisation to place women candidates primarily in the third place.” Of the 63 lists, only four were led by female candidates. According to reports, women accounted for an average of 37% of candidates for the parliamentary elections.
Of the 13 Presidential aspirants, there was only one woman, Iye Kakay of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP). Her nomination made her the first woman to be selected as ADP’s Presidential flag bearer since the party’s inception in 2015. Furthermore, among the other presidential candidates, five had a woman as a running mate.
Among the newly elected parliamentarians are some young women making history as the youngest members of Sierra Leone’s 6th Parliament: 28-year-old Hon. Sia Mahawa Habiama Tommy and 26-year-old Hon. Alice Kornya Sandy, both of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). Hon. Tommy is a fierce advocate for youth, women, girls, and education, and she was recently nominated as one of the most influential women in Sierra Leone’s Eastern Region. Hon. Sandy, a lawyer by training, is the first female MP in Constituency 016 of Kenema District. Both women sit on the Committees of Youth Affairs, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Despite the groundbreaking record of female MPs in Sierra Leone, the Honorable P.C. Haja Fatmata Bintu Koroma Meama Kajue of Moyamba district is the only female Paramount Chief. In Sierra Leone, the paramount chieftaincy is a form of local government in which the Paramount Chief serves as the leader of one of the 14 rural districts of the country and is responsible for resolving conflicts and fostering community well-being. Hon. Haja Fatmata became a member of parliament in 2018 following her election victory as Paramount chief in February of the same year. She is a well-known supporter of women's empowerment and political participation.
Civil society organisations such as the Women's Solidarity Support Group, Women's Forum, and All Political Parties Women's Association (APPWA) played significant roles in promoting gender-sensitive policies and laws. These efforts led to adopting the 30% electoral quota for women, which increased women's representation in the 2023 elections and the enactment of the Customary Land Rights Act 2022. Before the passage of the Land Rights Act, women - who make up no less than 70% of Sierra Leone's agricultural workforce - were prohibited by customary law from owning, controlling or inheriting the lands they cultivate. The newly enacted Customary Land Rights Act of 2022 has now revolutionised land ownership for women, granting them equal rights as men to own, hold, use, inherit and succeed land. This legislation voids all previous customary laws that denied women these rights. Furthermore, it mandates joint land ownership by spouses and requires a minimum representation of 30% women in each land committee. The provisions, amongst others, not only ensure Sierra Leonean women's protection but also bolster their financial and social empowerment, fostering active participation in community governance.
Beyond the reserved seats stipulation of Sierra Leone’s GEWE Act, it also mandates equal pay and equal opportunities in employment for men and women and equal access to credit and financial services. The Act also imposes significant fines for employers who do not comply with the laws and may impose prison time for institutions like banks for failing to give women fair access to financial support. To further strengthen women’s and girls’ rights, Sierra Leone adopted legislation such as the Domestic Violence Act 2007 and the Devolution of Estates Act 2007, which protects women’s property ownership in the event of a spouse’s death. It also enacted the Child Rights Act 2007, which, amongst other protections, sets the minimum age of marriage to 18 years for both boys and girls and the Sexual Offences Act 2012, which outlines several penalties for all forms of general and child sexual assault cases.
Conclusion
The 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections concluded with President Julius Maada Bio winning most of the votes and securing a second term. His party, the SLPP, took 81 out of the 135 seats at stake in parliament. Following the recently concluded parliamentary elections, women’s representation in Sierra Leone’s parliament increased significantly. The percentage of women in parliament nearly doubled from 14.52% in 2018 to 28.19% in 2023. While the number of women indirectly elected declined from 2 to 1 member, women represented 30.37% of the candidates directly elected - two are under 30 - to parliament, thus meeting the adopted gender quota. The significant increase in women’s representation is attributed to the adoption of legislative measures such as the Gender Equality and Empowerment Act.
The positive changes in realising women’s rights were made possible in large part by the advocacy of civil society and women's rights organisations such as the APPWA, Women's Forum, and Women's Solidarity Support Group. These groups have been pivotal in the adoption of several recent gender-sensitive legislation that have enhanced women’s political participation at both local and national levels and also guaranteed the protection of women’s rights across various capacities. Today, Sierra Leonean women can own, inherit, and control land and have a 30% reserved seat quota in all offices, committees and political party lists.
