President Bio Honours Tripatite Agreement
Freetown, Sierra Leone –
In a significant move aimed at healing political divisions and fostering reconciliation, President Julius Maada Bio announced sweeping measures granting formal clearance to opposition figures in exile and issuing Presidential Pardons to several convicted individuals, including prominent opposition members. The actions are framed as pivotal steps under the Agreement for National Unity (ANU).
The government confirmed in an official statement released on Thursday that, following thorough consultations with the Office of National Security (ONS), the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), it has formally cleared all individuals previously listed by the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) as being in self-imposed exile or hiding, due to political activities. Crucially, the security apparatus concluded that none of these individuals are currently subjects of any active criminal investigations. This clearance effectively removes any legal barriers, allowing them to return to Sierra Leone without fear of arrest related to their past political affiliations, and to resume their normal lives without restrictions.
In a parallel and equally consequential decision, President Bio exercised his constitutional prerogative to grant pardons to a number of convicted persons. Among those pardoned is APC’s Alhaji Osman Sheriff, a notable figure within the opposition party. The pardons stemmed from distinct circumstances: some of them directly linked to political reconciliation efforts under the framework of the ANU, acknowledging past political tensions. Another group involved individuals convicted of various criminal offences, whose cases were reviewed separately. The President emphasized that all pardon decisions were made based on the formal recommendations submitted by the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, commonly known as the Pardon Committee. This committee is chaired by Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, underscoring the high-level consideration given to each case.
President Bio directly addressed those benefiting from the clearances and pardons, urging them to seize this moment as an opportunity to actively contribute to the nation’s healing and progress. He called on them to “use this opportunity to foster peace, national cohesion, and contribute to Sierra Leone’s development.” The President strongly reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to building a genuinely united and harmonious Sierra Leone, positioning these latest actions as concrete manifestations of that commitment through the ANU process. This move was widely seen as a major confidence-building gesture towards the opposition, and a potential catalyst for broader political dialogue aimed at long-term stability.