Freetown, 15th September, 2026 – The Citizens Advocacy Network (CAN) has welcomed President Julius Maada Bio’s decision to withhold assent to the controversial Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and seek judicial interpretation from the Supreme Court.
In a statement issued by Executive Director Thomas Moore Conteh, CAN described the move as “prudent and constitutionally responsible,” noting that it aligns with the position the organization advanced in its petition to the President on August 24, 2026. That petition urged the President not to assent to the Bill until constitutional requirements under Section 108 of the 1991 Constitution had been fully satisfied.
CAN had already filed proceedings at the Supreme Court on September 3, challenging the legality of the Bill’s passage. The President’s subsequent referral on September 14, the group said, reinforces the importance of obtaining authoritative judicial clarity before any further steps are taken.
“This matter transcends political parties, personalities, and immediate political interests. It concerns the proper interpretation of the Constitution and the procedures by which the supreme law of Sierra Leone may lawfully be altered,” the statement emphasized.
CAN called on political actors, civil society organizations, and citizens to respect the judicial process and allow the Court to exercise its constitutional mandate independently and without undue pressure. The group reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy for constitutionalism, democratic accountability, and the supremacy of the Constitution.
“The Constitution may be changed, but it must be changed constitutionally,” Conteh stressed
