Over the past two decades, Sierra Leone has made notable strides in consolidating democratic governance and political stability after a decade-long civil conflict. The peaceful transitions of power between the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) in 2007 and 2018 also marked significant milestones. However, the credibility of the 2023 elections faced intense scrutiny, leading to a three-month legislative boycott by the opposition party APC. The political gridlock was resolved with an Agreement for National Unity in October 2023, which included commitments to electoral reform, highlighting ongoing challenges in Sierra Leone’s democratic journey.
This Cost of Politics report examines the impact of recent changes to Sierra Leone’s electoral system and also gender quotas on political participation, with a particular focus on women and youth. The study shows that the change from first-past-the-post system to a district block proportional representation model, alongside the new Gender Empowerment and Women’s Equality (GEWE) Act requiring women to be every third candidate on party lists, substantially altered the political landscape ahead of the 2023 elections.
For this study, a qualitative approach was used, with insights gathered from 52 in-depth interviews, with a majority of female respondents and youth including unsuccessful political aspirants, current Members of Parliament (MPs), civil society figures, media representatives and citizens from 16 districts. This method uncovered how the new electoral system has exacerbated the financial burdens on candidates, particularly women and youth. Author of the study, Mustapha Dumbuya-Co-Founder and Editor at Engage Salone notes “Speaking to different stakeholders in the country during the study, we found that the high financial burden is a barrier to political participation, especially for specific demographics such as youth, women, and other vulnerable groups.” Such high costs are detrimental to effective youth and women participation.
As noted by author Jamil S. Jabie-Author, key findings indicate that the district proportional block system, in 2023 exacerbated the financial burden on aspirants with women facing additional obstacles. “Sadly, women bear the brunt of this cost since their cost cannot just be measured on financial terms but other social expectations that make it hard for women to run for office. They must work twice as hard compared to their male counterparts.”
To foster a more inclusive participation, Jamil S. Jabbie notes that it’s recommended that political parties adopt a more transparent and equitable process for a more level playing field. “We recommend that political parties adopt and implement more transparent and equitable candidate selection processes and financially support youth and women to create a level playing field for all.” Additionally the PPRC should work together with political parties to develop gender equality policies internally and enforce them.For a more comprehensive look at the “cost of politics” in Sierra Leone, and the shifting dynamics of costs for running for office, and the implications for democracy, view the full report.
This study is supported by the WYDE Civic Engagement project, which aims to empower youth in democratic processes. Through this research, the Cost of Politics reports unlock the unique processes of electoral participation and their impact on democracy in different countries.
