Freetown,2nd June 2026– Public confidence in Sierra Leone’s state institutions has collapsed to unprecedented lows, with half of citizens saying they do not trust any public body to act in their best interest.
The finding comes from a new online opinion poll conducted by the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), which asked respondents: “Which of the following public institutions in Sierra Leone do you trust the most to act in the best interest of citizens?”
The most alarming statistic is that 50% of respondents selected “None of the Above”, signalling a systemic crisis in citizen–government relations. When trust breaks down at this scale, the legitimacy of governance, the rule of law, and public safety are all at risk.
The survey revealed strikingly low confidence across major institutions like the National Electoral Commission (ECSL), the Judiciary, the Sierra Leone Police, parliament and the Anti-Corruption Commission, among others
The figures show that even the most trusted institution, the ECSL, commands confidence from less than one in five citizens. Parliament and local councils, meanwhile, register only 2% trust, underscoring the depth of the crisis.
CHRDI described the results as evidence of a “public trust crisis”, warning that Sierra Leone cannot move forward without rebuilding confidence in governance. “This isn’t just a statistic. It signals a systemic crisis in the relationship between the state and the public,” the organization said in its statement.
The watchdog called for immediate, transparent action to restore accountability and rebuild public confidence, stressing that trust is the foundation of democratic legitimacy and effective governance.
