The ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC), have both presided over eras characterized by systemic corruption, economic mismanagement, tribal favouritism, and a lack of credible leadership. As the 2028 elections gradually draw nearer, both political giants are confronting a growing crisis of legitimacy. They are grappling with deep public distrust, internal disunity, and an increasingly disillusioned electorate who see no real difference between the two.
This article explores the inevitable challenges both parties face in their pursuit of the Presidency and control of Parliament, and why many Sierra Leoneans now believe that neither is fit to lead a dignified and progressive nation.
A Legacy of Failure and Betrayal
Both the SLPP and APC have had multiple opportunities to govern Sierra Leone, and both have spectacularly failed the people. The APC’s last stint in power under President Ernest Bai Koroma was marred by rampant corruption, infrastructural decay, nepotism, and an economic downturn that led to massive unemployment and disillusionment. Projects like the Mamamah Airport and the Lungi Bridge were either politicized, stalled, or served as cash cows for a connected elite.
When the SLPP took over in 2018 under President Julius Maada Bio, they came in with promises of “New Direction,” “Free Quality Education,” and “National Unity.” But after six years, these slogans have mostly been reduced to political rhetoric. Hunger, youth unemployment, and drug abuse (notably the kush epidemic) have escalated, while the ruling class has enriched itself.
Accusations of tribalism, targeted arrests of opposition members, and a declining rule of law now characterize the Bio administration.
In effect, both the APC and SLPP have shown they are not worthy of Sierra Leone’s potential.
Dwindling Public Trust and Political Apathy
Public confidence in both major parties is at an all-time low. Many Sierra Leoneans, especially the youth who form the majority of the voting population, are increasingly disengaged from politics. They have seen promises turn into lies, manifestos morph into manifestations of greed, and hope replaced by hardship.
This disillusionment poses a serious electoral challenge for both parties. Voter turnout may plummet further, and those who do vote are no longer driven by loyalty but rather by short-term incentives, often in the form of cash, rice, or jobs.
In a country where democratic participation should be a tool for change, both the APC and SLPP have turned it into a disempowering ritual. Re-engaging the public is a mountain both parties must now climb—and many believe they have neither the moral nor political tools to do so.
Internal Division and Infighting
Neither party is currently united. The SLPP is facing a serious succession crisis. President Bio’s second and final term has ignited fierce competition between powerful factions, including those aligned with the First Lady and those behind the Chief Minister. Infighting and accusations of sabotage have intensified, and the President appears increasingly unable to control the political ambitions brewing within his own house.
Similarly, the APC is still nursing wounds from its controversial leadership battle involving Dr. Samura Kamara and Alfred Peter Conteh. Legal tussles, power struggles between grassroots members and elites, and an apparent lack of a clear post-2023 electoral strategy have left the party disoriented. Until these internal schisms are resolved, both the SLPP and APC will find it difficult to present a coherent vision or a united front to the electorate.
An Unforgiving Socio-Economic Context
The Sierra Leonean economy is in freefall. The cost of living continues to rise, the Leone has depreciated drastically, and international investors are wary of political instability and poor governance. Ordinary citizens struggle with electricity blackouts, poor healthcare, collapsed educational systems, and a lack of decent jobs. The political rhetoric from both parties has done little to address these urgent issues in tangible ways.
In this dire context, slogans will not be enough. Citizens are asking hard questions: “Where is the Lungi Bridge?” “What happened to the Anti-Corruption fight?” “Why is the judiciary so politicized?” Neither the APC nor SLPP can convincingly answer these questions without exposing their own failures.
A Rising Call for a Third Force
The greatest challenge to both the SLPP and APC might not come from each other, but from a rising clamour for a third political force—a new party or movement that breaks the tribal, corrupt, and elitist mould of Sierra Leonean politics. Civil society groups, young intellectuals, diaspora returnees, and even some traditional leaders are beginning to voice support for alternatives.
While no third force has yet emerged with sufficient structure and nationwide appeal, the ground is fertile. If a credible, visionary, and grassroots-oriented political movement arises, both the APC and SLPP may find themselves in unfamiliar territory—no longer competing for domination, but struggling for survival.
Nation in Search of Redemption
Sierra Leone deserves better. It deserves leadership that is honest, inclusive, competent, and visionary. Unfortunately, both the SLPP and APC have, over decades, proven themselves unworthy custodians of the country’s destiny. As they head into future elections, their greatest challenge is not just to win votes, but to reclaim credibility—if that is still possible.
The people of Sierra Leone are watching, thinking, and awakening. They are tired of recycled promises, recycled leaders, and recycled failures. Whether in Parliament or at State House, the path forward will not be easy for the SLPP or APC—not because of each other, but because Sierra Leoneans are beginning to believe that neither of them holds the key to the nation’s future. That key, perhaps, lies elsewhere.
