By Mohamed Kamara
FREETOWN – As consultations continue under the Tripartite Committee’s framework for electoral reform, one controversial recommendation—known as Recommendation 70—has sparked debate among political observers and party members alike. If implemented, the measure could lead to the deregistration of at least 15 minority political parties ahead of the 2033 general elections.
Recommendation 70 of the Tripartite Agreement states: “The Political Parties Act to be amended to require that if a political party does not win any elected office (at local or national level) in two consecutive general elections, then the party shall be deregistered.”
Historical election records indicate that apart from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), and a few relatively recent entrants such as the National Grand Coalition (NGC) and Coalition for Change (C4C), many registered political parties have consistently failed to win a single seat—either at parliamentary or local council level—since the return to multiparty democracy.
Analysts say the measure seeks to curb the proliferation of political parties with little to no electoral support. “We cannot continue to have a system where dozens of inactive political parties emerge during election seasons only to disappear afterward,” said a governance expert. “Many of them contribute little to national development or meaningful opposition.”
Critics of minority parties argue that most lack visible political structures and rely solely on electoral cycles to seek state or donor attention. The Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) has also faced criticism for allowing what some describe as “excessive and unchecked” party registration over the years.
However, civil rights advocates and some political thinkers strongly oppose the recommendation, warning it could violate the constitutional right of citizens to form political parties and participate in democratic processes. They argue that performance at the ballot box should not be the sole criteria for a party’s legitimacy.
“A law like this could trigger legal challenges,” warned one constitutional lawyer. “Freedom of association and political participation are fundamental rights. Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo maintain over 40 registered political parties—many of which have never won elections but still function as democratic voices.”
Others caution that Recommendation 70, if adopted, could lead to further fragmentation within the major parties. “Many of these smaller parties are products of internal disagreements,” noted a political scientist. “Their members, once deregistered, could join existing parties, reigniting power struggles and factionalism.”
Proponents of the recommendation insist that its approval would lead to a more disciplined and focused political environment. They believe it would discourage the practice of forming parties merely to negotiate political appointments or benefit from state funding.
Meanwhile, the outcome of the ongoing national dialogue and the final decision on Recommendation 70 remains uncertain. As Sierra Leone moves towards potential electoral reforms, both local and international observers are closely monitoring how the process unfolds—and what it could mean for the future of multiparty democracy in the country.
