New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)
Your one-stop-shop for information about national parliaments

Sierra Leone

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Parliament

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Presidential system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Unicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
07.03.2018
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
07.12.2017
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.03.2023
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
124
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
795
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
695
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
100
The number of women candidates is not available from authoritative sources.
No
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
12.58%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
17

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
3,178,663
Votes Number of people who actually voted
2,676,549
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
84.2%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
The All People's Congress (APC) remained the largest party in the 146-member Parliament (up from 124), while the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) remained the second largest. No presidential candidate secured the required 55% of votes to be elected in the first round held in parallel with the parliamentary polls. In the run-off presidential elections held on 31 March, Mr. Julius Madaa Bio (SLPP) defeated former foreign affairs minister Samura Kamara (APC). On 5 April, Mr. Bio, who briefly ruled Sierra Leone as head of a military junta in 1996, was sworn in as the country's new President. He succeeded Mr. Ernest Koroma (APC) who was unable to run in the 2018 elections due to the two-term limit for the presidency. The 2018 elections were the first to be held after the 2014 Ebola epidemic which killed nearly 4,000 people. Opposition parties criticized the outgoing government after some US$13.8 million worth of donor funds went missing. Separately, the APC pledged to continue developing the relationship with China, while the SLPP kept its distance from the largest investor to the country.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
4
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
23.53%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
54.84%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
Yes
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Sierra Leone People’s Party
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
All People's Congress (APC) 68
Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) 49
Coalition for Change (C4C) 8
National Grand Coalition (NGC) 4
Independents 3
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
128
Number of women elected
18
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
14.52%
Note on the Distribution of seats according to sex
Of the 132 directly elected MPs 16 are women and of the 14 Paramount Chiefs, MPs, 2 are women.
Other notes
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry: Article 87 (1) of the Constitution stipulates "A general election of the Members of Parliament shall be held not earlier than thirty days and not later than ninety days after any dissolution of Parliament". The five-year term of the outgoing parliament, elected in November 2012, commenced December 2012. Note on the statutory number of Parliament: Article 38 (4) requires the Electoral commission to "review the division of Sierra Leone into constituencies at intervals of not less than five and not more than seven years". In 2017, Parliament approved the newly constituted constituencies, wards and districts to be used in the 2018 elections.
Sources
Parliament (02.05.2018, 04.05.2018) National Electoral Commission International Foundation for Electoral Systems BBC Reuters AFP Africa News Premium Times
Women Directly Elected
16
Women Indirectly Elected
2

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
128
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
18
Notes Note on the number of first-term parliamentarians
Of the 132 directly elected MPs 16 are women and of the 14 Paramount Chiefs, MPs, 2 are women.
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
25.04.2018
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Abass Chernoh Bundu (Male)
Political party
Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP)
Date of election
25.04.2018