WABA Condemns Sierra Leone Government’s Alleged Interference in Bar Association Election

The West African Bar Association (WABA) has strongly condemned what it described as the unwarranted interference of the Government of Sierra Leone in the affairs of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), following reports that security operatives prevented lawyers from accessing the venue of the Association’s Annual General Meeting and national elections.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, WABA expressed “profound concern” over reports that officers of the Sierra Leone Police and other security personnel were deployed to block members of the SLBA from participating in the Annual General Meeting and the election of the Association’s national officers.

The regional body warned that any attempt by a government or its agencies to interfere in the internal governance or electoral processes of a Bar Association amounts to a direct attack on the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law.

According to WABA, an independent Bar remains indispensable to the administration of justice, the protection of fundamental rights, and the preservation of constitutional democracy across West Africa. The Association maintained that the reported actions undermine internationally recognised principles safeguarding the autonomy of legal practitioners and professional associations.

WABA further cited the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, noting that Sierra Leone is under an obligation to uphold freedom of association, peaceful assembly, democratic governance, and the independence of institutions critical to democracy. It argued that obstructing lawyers from convening their Annual General Meeting and electing their leadership runs contrary to these regional and international commitments.

The Association described the reported actions of the security agencies as “wholly unacceptable” and inconsistent with the constitutional role of law enforcement agencies, stressing that the police are expected to protect citizens exercising their lawful rights rather than frustrate legitimate democratic and professional activities.

WABA consequently called on the Government of Sierra Leone to immediately end all forms of interference in the affairs of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, ensure that members are able to hold their Annual General Meeting and conduct peaceful elections without intimidation, and direct security agencies to facilitate—not obstruct—the exercise of constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of association. It also urged the authorities to uphold the independence of the legal profession in line with constitutional principles, regional democratic norms, and internationally accepted standards.

Expressing solidarity with the Sierra Leone Bar Association, WABA said it remained confident that lawyers in the country would continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities with courage and independence despite the challenges. The Association added that it would continue to monitor developments and work with regional institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen the rule of law throughout West Africa.

“WABA will continue to speak firmly and without equivocation whenever the rule of law and the independence of the Bar are threatened,” the statement, signed by the Association’s Secretary General, Adesina Adegbite, FICMC, MCIArb, concluded.