By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, September 15, 2026: The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has announced that all cases filed before it relating to the controversial Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2026 will be heard on October 7, 2026.
In a public notice, the Court said the matters will be heard expeditiously to ensure timely resolution in line with the laws of Sierra Leone.
This announcement follows President Julius Maada Bio’s referral of the Bill to the Supreme Court on September 14, 2026, citing the need for constitutional clarity and broad national consensus before granting assent. The President had received the Bill from Parliament on September 10, days after the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) petitioned him over constitutional concerns.
Acting under Section 122(1) of the 1991 Constitution, the President directed the Attorney‑General and Minister of Justice to facilitate the referral. State House noted that if the Court does not issue its opinion within 14 days of the Bill’s presentation, the President will communicate his final decision to Parliament once the judicial opinion is received.
The Bill has sparked heated debate in Parliament and beyond. Opposition MPs from the All People’s Congress (APC) staged a walkout, insisting that constitutional amendments require a two‑thirds majority under Section 108(b). The Speaker, however, ruled that a simple majority sufficed for clause‑by‑clause votes, arguing that the two‑thirds threshold applies only to final passage.
Civil society groups have since questioned the legality of the process, urging judicial interpretation. The referral now places the matter squarely before the judiciary, with implications for Sierra Leone’s ongoing constitutional review and democratic reforms.