A few weeks ago, Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, received formal notice from the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) that Dr. Kelfala Marrah has been appointed as their new Chief Negotiator for the Agreement for National Unity (ANU).
When the ANU was signed in 2023, Dr. Samura Kamara was the APC’s lead representative, but Dr. Marrah was closely involved throughout the process—both in negotiating the parent ANU and participating in the Tripartite Committee established under Resolution 3.
Although critics initially doubted whether the agreements would be implemented, significant progress has been made. Upon receiving a full briefing, Dr. Marrah remarked, “Congratulations, this is impressive progress.” Every one of the eight ANU resolutions has either been completed or is actively being implemented including the challenging Resolution 4, which addressed the payment of salaries to elected officials and the release of certain prisoners.
Most notably, this week, President Julius Maada Bio’s cabinet approved comprehensive electoral reforms, reflecting recommendations from both the Constitutional Review Process and the Tripartite Committee Report (Resolution 3).
As Chief Negotiator, Dr. Sengeh expressed optimism: “We are confident that we will soon be able to say 100% of the ANU has been delivered. This is a milestone for the political maturity of our democracy.”
He emphasized the broader significance of the agreement: “This is the backbone of our national unity. For the opposition, state institutions, the government, and citizens to tackle long-standing electoral challenges together is a tremendous achievement. We must not allow those who benefit from chaos and division to shape our national narrative.”
