President Julius Maada Bio has deferred his assent to the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Act, 2025, choosing instead to refer a petition challenging the legislation to the Supreme Court for judicial review. In a State House press release issued on 14 September 2026, President Bio underscored that the ongoing public debate and divergent views surrounding the bill informed his decision.
This intervention follows a petition submitted on 4 September 2026, by the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR), joined by other civil society organizations and activists, raising constitutional concerns about Parliament’s passage of the amendment. The Clerk of Parliament had formally presented the legislation to the President for assent on September 10. President Bio invoked Section 122(1) of the 1991 Constitution to instruct the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to immediately refer the petition to the Supreme Court.
Citizens and civil society organizations have commended the President’s decision as an act of statesmanship, ensuring that the amendment process is guided by constitutional clarity and respect for the country’s grundnorm. The Supreme Court is now expected to provide authoritative guidance that will shape Sierra Leone’s democratic governance and reinforce public trust in the constitutional review process.