Sierra Leone Gazette Establishes Two New Districts and Additional Councils

Sierra Leone has formally expanded its administrative structure with the establishment of two districts, several councils, 14 chiefdoms and five villages.

The changes were published in an Extraordinary issue of The Sierra Leone Gazette, Volume CLXVII, No. 77, dated September 16, 2026. The issue was produced by the Government Printing Department and covered by Government Notice Nos. 246–277.

Two districts added

Bandajuma District was established under Statutory Instrument No. 7, while Kpanguima District was created under Statutory Instrument No. 18. According to the Gazette, the additions raise Sierra Leone’s number of districts from 16 to 18.

The spelling used in the statutory instruments is “Kpanguima.” Earlier Government discussions had used variants including “Kpanguma.”

District-level local government structures were also established. Bandajuma District Council falls under Statutory Instrument No. 14, and Kpanguima District Council under Statutory Instrument No. 17.

New councils in the Western Area and Lungi

The Gazette formalized a significant reorganization of local administration in the Western Area. Freetown City Council was established under Statutory Instrument No. 13, and Freetown West City Council under Statutory Instrument No. 15.

Mountain Rural Council, Waterloo Rural Council and York Rural Council were established under Statutory Instruments Nos. 26, 31 and 33 respectively. The area previously administered through the Western Area Rural District Council framework was reorganized into these three rural councils.

Lungi City Council was established under Statutory Instrument No. 19, giving Lungi a formal city council through an establishment order.

Chiefdoms and villages gazetted

The Gazette also formally established the chiefdoms of Barawa, Biriwa Limba, Biriwa, Bongre, Kamadugu, Lunia, Mabala Village, Magbaimba, Mapaki, Masabong, N’dohahun, Peje, Vanjelu and Yiraia.

Establishment orders were provided for Bankor Village, Black Johnson Village, During Village, Majei Village and Tree Planting Village. The instruments identify During and Majei as formerly During Town Village and Majei Town Village respectively.

Implementation still required

The gazetting places earlier Government proposals within a formal statutory framework. However, operational structures, staffing, financing and other administrative arrangements require additional implementation measures.

The Gazette’s description of the Local Government Act 2022 states that the President may, following the required recommendations, declare an area a locality, assign it a name and establish a council through a statutory instrument.