Courtrooms across Sierra Leone have remained quiet since Thursday, October 8, 2026, following the Judiciary’s decision to suspend all High Court sittings nationwide to allow judges, lawyers and court personnel to follow the ongoing landmark proceedings before the Supreme Court.
The suspension came as the country’s highest court continued hearing consolidated constitutional matters surrounding the procedure for amending non-entrenched provisions of the 1991 Constitution, including challenges linked to the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025.
In a notice issued Thursday morning, the Judiciary confirmed that all High Court proceedings scheduled for the day had been suspended to facilitate the continuation of the Supreme Court hearing and enable judicial officers and other court personnel to follow the proceedings.
The Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice Komba Kamanda, resumed the closely watched constitutional case at 10:00 a.m. Thursday following significant developments during Wednesday’s sitting.
The case has attracted considerable public attention because of its potential implications for Sierra Leone’s electoral and constitutional framework. It centres on questions surrounding the constitutional procedure followed in the passage of the proposed amendment and, in particular, whether Parliament satisfied the required two-thirds majority under Section 108(2)(b) of the 1991 Constitution.
The constitutional provision requires the support of two-thirds of the 149-member Parliament, equivalent to 100 Members of Parliament, for the relevant amendment process.
The Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025, contains several significant proposed changes, including a reduction of the presidential electoral threshold from 55 percent to 50 percent plus one vote. It also seeks to restore the Proportional Representation electoral system and introduce a 30 percent quota for women in party leadership.
The Supreme Court proceedings gained further significance on Wednesday when the Court delivered rulings permitting the Attorney-General to participate in the matter despite not having filed formal papers, while also allowing the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (IRLAJ) to join the proceedings as a party.
Following those rulings, the Court adjourned the matter until 10:00 a.m. Thursday for the continuation of substantive proceedings.
According to the Judiciary, the decision to suspend High Court sittings was intended to create an enabling environment for High Court Judges, legal practitioners and court staff to follow what is being regarded as a significant constitutional proceeding.
The suspension also came against the backdrop of the unprecedented public broadcast of the Supreme Court proceedings, with the hearing being transmitted live on radio and television, allowing members of the public across the country to follow the proceedings.
The case is therefore being closely monitored by legal practitioners, political stakeholders, civil society organisations and members of the public, given the far-reaching implications that the Court’s eventual determination could have on the country’s constitutional and electoral landscape.
High Court sittings are expected to resume on Friday, October 9, subject to developments and the progress of the Supreme Court proceedings.
The Supreme Court’s determination in the constitutional matter is expected to remain a major focus of national attention as Sierra Leone continues to debate the proposed changes to its constitutional and electoral framework.