By Dr. Michael Imran Kanu
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations (writing in my personal capacity).
Introduction: Democracy Begins at Home in Sierra Leone
On July 30 and 31, 2025, Sierra Leone’s ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) gathered in Freetown for its 14thNational Delegates Conference, unlike any in recent memory. Rather than dictate outcomes, the Party Leader, President Julius Maada Bio, used the forum to lead by example in internal democracy. He pointedly stated his refusal to intervene or impose candidates in the party’s elections, declaring that he had “not endorsed any candidate because [he] believe[s] in a fair contest where the will of the delegates prevails.” In a political culture where incumbents often leverage their position to influence succession, President Bio’s stance is a refreshing break. He rejected the use of incumbency to anoint favourites, insisting instead that “leadership is earned, not imposed.” By stepping back and allowing delegates to choose their leaders freely, President Bio underscored his commitment to democratic practices within his party, a move that resonates deeply in Sierra Leone and sets an important precedent for the region.
President Bio’s opening speech to the conference carried a tone of unity, humility, and integrity. Emphasizing party cohesion over factionalism, he reminded delegates, “We gather not as factions, but as one family, united in purpose”. He urged that the SLPP must emerge from the two-day conference “stronger, not weaker; healed, not wounded”. The President appealed to the character of both winners and losers in the internal race: “To those who would win, I say: Be magnanimous… embrace your opponents,” he advised, while telling those who don’t win to “be gracious” and work for the common good of the party. Such calls for magnanimity in victory and grace in defeat highlight leadership through humility, a stark contrast to the coercive tactics and winner-takes-all mentality that too often plague political contests. President Bio’s message was clear. The SLPP’s strength must come from unity and moral character, not intimidation or imposition. “There must be no space for blackmail, fake news, slander, or social media warfare,” he warned, urging a focus on merit and service rather than smear tactics. By championing fairness and respect over coercion, President Bio reinforced the principle that democratic integrity starts with how a party conducts its own affairs.
Crucially, President Bio went on record about his future intentions, dispelling any notions that he might cling to power or manipulate succession. “Let me go on record – clearly and publicly… I have not endorsed any candidate at this stage of my second-term mandate,” he stated firmly, adding, “I harbour no presidential ambition beyond my current mandate to serve the people of Sierra Leone.” In a region where speculation about third-term bids and power grabs is common, this declaration was significant. President Bio affirmed that when the time comes to choose the SLPP’s next presidential flagbearer for 2028, the selection will be done “in full accordance with our Party Constitution and cherished democratic traditions.” By ruling out any personal attempt to extend his presidency or handpick a successor, he bolstered his credibility as a democrat. The SLPP’s next leader, he insisted, must earn the role through merit – as “a true servant of the people” with the “skill set to win… the maturity to heal divisions… the wisdom to reach across factions… and the courage to embrace opponents”. These remarks not only steadied the nerves of those wary of incumbency abuse butalso set a moral benchmark. Power is not an entitlement, but a trust to be exercised with humility and relinquished in accordance with the law and party rules.
From Freetown to West Africa: Practising What He Preaches as ECOWAS Chair
President Bio’s principled stand at home gains even greater significance in light of his new regional role. Just a month prior, in June 2025, he was elected as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States), becoming the first Sierra Leonean in the second republic to hold the bloc’s top position. In assuming the ECOWAS chairmanship, Bio outlined an ambitious agenda focused on four key priorities for West Africa’s progress, “restoring constitutional order and deepening democracy; revitalizing regional security cooperation; unlocking economic integration; and building institutional credibility.” Notably, he has placed democracy at the forefront of this agenda. “One of my top priorities as the Chair of ECOWAS is to restore constitutional order and deepen democracy across the region,” President Bio affirmed. But he also acknowledged that credibility on the regional stage begins with consistency at home. “That work must begin at home. We cannot preach democracy abroad and fail to practice it here.” In other words, President Bio recognizes that to credibly champion democratic governance in West Africa, Sierra Leone’s own house, starting with his ruling party, which must exemplify those same values.
As ECOWAS Chair, President Bio has candidly noted the headwinds facing the region. “The democratic space is under strain in parts of our region,” he observed in his inaugural ECOWAS address, pointedly noting that “in some countries, the constitutional order has been disrupted.” Indeed, West Africa has experienced a worrisome democratic backslide in recent years. A spate of military coups has toppled elected governments, while in other nations, some incumbents have attempted constitutional revisions to prolong their tenure, undermining democratic norms. These unconstitutional changes of government have rolled back two decades of democratic progress and fuelled public disillusionment. It is against this backdrop that President Bio’s actions in Sierra Leone stand out as a heartening exception. By prioritizing free internal elections and respecting term limits, he is charting a different course from the troubling pattern of democratic retrenchment in the region. The contrast is stark, where others in West Africa have eroded checks and balances, Bio is strengthening them. Where some cling to power or orchestrate outcomes behind closed doors, President Bio is opening up the process and trusting the ballot, even within his own party.
President Bio explicitly linked Sierra Leone’s democratic example to his moral authority in West Africa. “Our Party must meet that standard. Our country must rise to it,” he said of the high bar set by his ECOWAS position. “We cannot demand constitutional order elsewhere and sow discord here,” he warned, underscoring that leading ECOWAS comes with the responsibility of consistency. By urging the SLPP to lead by example as moral guarantors of democracy in West Africa, President Bio is effectively saying to all West African leaders, uphold at home the principles you proclaim abroad. This approach is both pragmatic and principled. Pragmatic, because ECOWAS’ credibility in pressuring coup leaders or defending democratic norms hinges on member States practising what they preach. Principled, because it appeals to the basic notion of integrity in leadership. President Bio is acutely aware that his tenure as ECOWAS chair will be judged by whether he can help reverse the region’s democratic decline. That is why he frames Sierra Leone’s internal party elections and national governance as part of a larger tapestry of regional democracy. As he told delegates, “Sierra Leone is watching. The Region is watching. The World is watching”. Areminder that their conduct has repercussions beyond their borders.
A Break from the Cycle and a Moral Appeal to West Africa
In a region where cynicism about leaders’ commitment to democracy runs high, President Bio’s example is a breath of fresh air and a deliberate rejection of the trend of democratic backsliding. His message is that good governance and democracy must be more than slogans. They must be evidenced in how leaders attain and wield power. By refusing to manipulate his party’s internal vote or preordain a favouredsuccessor, President Bio contrast sharply with those who subvert democratic processes for personal or partisan gain. It may not be lost on observers that West Africa’s instability has often stemmed from leaders overstaying their welcome or undermining institutions, scenarios that President Bio appears determined to avoid.
Sierra Leone itself is still consolidating its democracy, having emerged from civil conflict that ended over 2 decades ago,and autocracy before the conflict. President Bio’s insistence on internal party democracy and his public vow to respect term limits reinforce Sierra Leone’s trajectory as a democracy that can buck the regional regression. Recent coups and power grabs may have eroded democratic legitimacy across Africa, fuelled by flawed elections and weak leadership, but President Bio’s antidote is to strengthen legitimacy by strengthening democracy, starting with free and fair contests within his own party, and extending to the national stage and beyond.
Moreover, President Bio has extended an olive branch and a challenge to his political rivals at home, modelling the democratic ethos he espouses. In the same conference speech, he addressed the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), urging them to “keep the process clean and fair” in their upcoming internal elections and to “honour [their] internal democracy and the peace of our nation.” Despite fierce competition between the SLPP and APC, President Bio’s appeal for mutual respect and stability. “[W]e must stand together on one sacred ground: the peace, unity and stability of Sierra Leone” is a notable act of leadership, humility and national unity.
President Bio has acknowledged the importance of the opposition’s role, affirming his commitment to good governance and the foundational values of democracy as president of all Sierra Leoneans. This inclusive approach bolsters his credibility when he calls on fellow West African leaders to put country over self. By demonstrating that he values a loyal opposition and constructive criticism at home, President Bio strengthens the moral force of his position against authoritarian tendencies in the region. It sends a powerful signal, a leader confident enough in his vision and mandate does not fear dissent or competition but rather views them as part and parcel of a healthy democracy.
Ultimately, President Julius Maada Bio’s actions at the SLPP conference, coming so soon after his elevation to ECOWAS Chair, amount to a clarion call for democratic renewal in West Africa. By leading by example, he has positioned himself as a regional statesman who walks the talk. His stance is both a departure and a dare. A departure from the all-too-common practice of African big-men politics, and a dare to his peers to embrace a similar path of accountable leadership. “The SLPP must lead by example as moral guarantors of democracy in West Africa,” President Bio said, underscoring the weight of this responsibility. The implicit message to other heads of state is unmistakable. If democracy is to be saved in the region, it will require each leader to model the governance they wish to see. President Bio’s tenure as ECOWAS Chair will test whether such moral leadership can translate into concrete regional outcomes, but he has made a compelling start by ensuring his own backyard is in order. In an era of coups and democratic uncertainty, Sierra Leone’s president is betting on the enduring power of integrity, unity, and the ballot box. His wager is that by nurturing true democracy at home, he can inspire a stronger commitment to good governance and constitutional order across West Africa. And perhaps, in doing so, help stem the tide of democratic backsliding one principled example at a time.
Conclusion: One Country, One People, and one region watching closely
President Bio’s bold exercise in internal party democracy is more than an SLPP affair. It is a beacon of hope that good governance can prevail by choice, not by force. If other leaders answer this moral appeal, West Africa may yet forge a new narrative of democracy. One led by character over coercion, humility over hubris, and lawful order over the rule of might. The stakes are high, but the principle is simple. To truly foster national and regional commitment to democracy, those in power must be willing to lead by example.
