Tensions over regional balance in government appointments resurfaced in Parliament on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, as debate surrounding the approval of Ahmed Saybom Kanu as Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources opened a wider political conversation about representation and inclusion in Sierra Leone’s executive structure.
What began as a routine parliamentary confirmation process quickly shifted into a pointed critique of how ministerial positions are distributed across districts, with Hon. Aaron Koroma, Member of Parliament for Tonkolili District representing the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), using the occasion to question what he described as a sustained marginalisation of his home district.
Hon. Koroma argued that Tonkolili, despite its longstanding political relevance and contribution to successive administrations, has not enjoyed meaningful cabinet-level representation under President Julius Maada Bio since 2018. He contended that earlier administrations had included the district more prominently in national decision-making structures.
He referenced past governments, noting that under former Presidents Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and Ernest Bai Koroma, Tonkolili figures were regularly appointed to ministerial positions. In contrast, he claimed the current administration had not maintained similar levels of inclusion.
While the House was considering the nomination of Ahmed Saybom Kanu, Koroma acknowledged the proposed appointment but insisted that a single position did not adequately reflect the size, political weight, and contributions of Tonkolili District.
He further pointed to the brief tenure of Mohamed Orman Bangura as Minister of Youth Affairs as one of the few recent examples of high-level representation from the district, arguing that even that presence had not been sustained.
Although speaking from the opposition benches, the MP maintained that his remarks reflected broader dissatisfaction among constituents across political affiliations. He claimed that concerns over exclusion were not limited to APC supporters but also extended to members of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) within the district.
According to him, communities across chiefdoms such as Kafe Simiria and Dasogoia have repeatedly expressed frustration over what they perceive as unequal access to national appointments and decision-making opportunities.
He further asserted that Tonkolili possesses a large pool of qualified individuals, including experienced professionals and grassroots politicians, many of whom he said are aligned with the SLPP and remain capable of serving at ministerial level if given the opportunity.
As he delivered his intervention in the chamber, proceedings reportedly became more subdued, with lawmakers listening as he expanded his argument on the importance of equitable national representation.
Outside Parliament, political attention in Tonkolili remained high as citizens from various chiefdoms followed the approval process of Ahmed Saybom Kanu, viewing it as a potentially positive development despite the broader concerns raised.
Concluding his remarks, Hon. Koroma maintained that his appeal was not a demand for political favour but a call for fairness in national appointments, insisting that Tonkolili’s contribution to Sierra Leone’s political landscape warrants stronger recognition at the highest levels of government.
