Efforts to resolve Sierra Leone’s ongoing political impasse appear to be gaining traction, with fresh engagements between the government and opposition All People’s Congress (APC) now placing renewed emphasis on service delivery at the local level.

Opposition Parliamentary Leader, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, confirmed the party’s first direct talks with the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government since tensions escalated, describing the meeting as “productive and constructive.”

He disclosed that discussions were held with a government delegation led by Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, alongside international moral guarantors, a development observers say signals a shift toward pragmatic dialogue.

The engagement, held on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, brought together key figures from APC-led councils, including Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and Western Area Rural District Council Chairman Kasho Holland-Cole, under the Vice President’s leadership as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Decentralisation and Local Governance. Deliberations focused on restoring calm and ensuring continuity in governance, particularly at the municipal level, where political tensions have disrupted operations.

VP Juldeh Jalloh called for cooperation and a renewed emphasis on service delivery, stressing that discussions were centered on resolving the stalemate to enable councils to function effectively, noting that all parties shared a mutual desire for a swift resolution to sustain essential services for citizens.

The renewed momentum in dialogue was further reinforced on Friday when President Dr Julius Maada Bio received Lead Moral Guarantor Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang and her delegation at State House. Reaffirming his commitment to the Agreement for National Unity, the President recalled his role in initiating the October 2023 mediated dialogue and pledged continued support for efforts aimed at maintaining peace and stability.

Public reaction, particularly on social media, has largely welcomed the President’s directive for the Vice President to lead the talks, with many expressing cautious optimism that the engagement could reset relations between the government and APC and strengthen collaboration in delivering effective governance.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 20th April 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)