By Kadiatu Sankoh
The Sierra Leone Parliament has temporarily halted its earlier directive issued on Friday, 7 November 2025, which required mobile network operators Africell and Orange Sierra Leone to reinstate their data promotions within 24 hours.
The decision follows appeals from both companies, who cited technical challenges in immediately complying with the order. In response, Parliament has suspended the directive and scheduled an additional hearing to review the concerns raised by the mobile network operators regarding the recent data increment.
Africell, Orange, and Qcell have been invited to appear before the Committee on Transparency and Accountability and the Committee on Telecommunications on 7 November 2025 in Committee Room 1. The committees are chaired by Hon. Ambrose Maada Lebbie and Hon. Boston Munda respectively.
Initially, the committees had given Africell and Orange a 24-hour ultimatum to reverse their new data tariffs. However, following what was described as a “fruitful” meeting with the committee chairs, the directive was suspended, and the order to reverse the tariffs was withdrawn.
Further deliberations are expected as Parliament seeks a resolution that balances consumer concerns with operational realities faced by mobile operators.