Sierra Leone has taken a significant step towards greater gender representation in politics after Parliament approved constitutional reforms introducing a 30% quota for women in political leadership.

The reform places women’s participation at the heart of changes to the country’s electoral framework ahead of the 2028 presidential election, creating a stronger pathway for women to secure positions of influence within political institutions.

For a country where women have historically faced barriers to political participation, the quota could help widen access to leadership and bring more diverse perspectives to national decision-making on issues including education, healthcare, economic opportunity and social development.

The reforms also lower the presidential electoral threshold from 55% to 50% plus one, while Parliament is set to adopt a proportional representation system for parliamentary elections.

However, the women’s representation provision is among the reforms likely to have the most lasting impact. Its significance will ultimately depend on implementation and whether the 30% target translates into meaningful representation across political structures.

The reforms were approved by a simple majority, with members of the opposition All People’s Congress walking out over objections that a two-thirds majority was required.

As Sierra Leone looks towards 2028, the focus will now shift from legislation to implementation. For women aspiring to political leadership, the new framework represents an opportunity to move from greater participation to a stronger voice at the decision-making table.