ECSL, ECONEC Review Electoral Lessons Ahead of Sierra Leone’s 2028 Polls

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) has begun a five-day post-election follow-up and needs assessment mission with the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) in Freetown.

The engagement, running from September 21 to 25, is focused on reviewing Sierra Leone’s 2023 General Elections, assessing progress in electoral administration and identifying institutional and technical priorities ahead of the planned 2028 Multi-tier Elections.

Focus on electoral capacity

ECONEC brings together election management bodies from across the Economic Community of West African States. It provides a regional platform for cooperation, peer learning, professional development and the exchange of electoral administration practices.

Edmond Sylvester Alpha, Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairman of ECSL, described the 2023 elections as an important milestone in Sierra Leone’s democratic journey. He said the current mission offers an opportunity to examine the country’s recent electoral experience, consider steps taken to strengthen administration and assess challenges ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Alpha said the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission had identified a highly polarised political environment and mistrust among several key stakeholders as challenges during the 2023 process. He also highlighted recommendations concerning stakeholder engagement, transparency in results management, the identification and training of polling personnel and improvements to the voting environment.

Confidence and stakeholder engagement

According to Alpha, public confidence in elections is developed throughout the electoral cycle through transparent procedures, effective communication, engagement with stakeholders, professional administration, credible information and accountability.

He said ECSL has continued its engagement and electoral education efforts with political parties, candidates, civil society organisations, the media, traditional and religious leaders, security institutions and citizens.

ECSL has also pursued staff development through regional and international programmes. Alpha noted that the Commission took part in an ECONEC-sponsored BRIDGE Train-the-Facilitator session in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2024.

Between March and April 2025, the Commission benefited from a European Union-sponsored BRIDGE Modular Session on Introduction to Electoral Administration, implemented by International IDEA. More than 45 ECSL staff members recruited since 2016 acquired structured technical knowledge through the programme, according to Alpha.

Preparing for 2028

The Commission’s preparations for the 2028 Multi-tier Elections are expected to cover boundary delimitation, voter registration and centre verification, candidate nominations, voter and civic education, campaign-period activities, recruitment and training of temporary personnel, polling and counting, results management, logistics, technology, electoral security, stakeholder engagement and post-election evaluation.

Alpha stressed the importance of starting preparations early and coordinating the work carefully. ECSL has said it remains committed to learning from past experience, strengthening its institutional systems and preparing systematically for the next elections.

A functional review being conducted by the Public Sector Reform Unit is examining ECSL’s organisational structure, management systems, functional arrangements, institutional roles and responsibilities.

Alpha also said the ongoing constitutional review process could affect the Commission’s mandate, institutional arrangements, procedures and operations, depending on its outcome. No final findings from the functional or constitutional reviews were reported.

The ECSL expects the ECONEC mission to support frank, constructive and forward-looking discussions while deepening cooperation with ECOWAS and ECONEC. Final findings or recommendations from the September 21-25 mission have not yet been reported.