President Julius Maada Bio
President Julius Maada Bio has publicly stated that he will leave office when his second and final term ends in 2028, to quell speculation about a prolonged stay in office. Bio reaffirmed his commitment to constitutional limits and a peaceful transfer of political authority in a speech on Africa’s Changing Geopolitical Landscape at Harvard Kennedy School on Tuesday, September 29.
“In 2028, God willing, I will hand over power again as a democrat,” he said, underlining his determination to respect the electoral calendar and institutional procedures.
The comments come amid speculation and concern over whether the general elections in 2028 will be held on schedule and persistent rumours in government circles of a possible two-year extension to his term.
Bio’s statement aimed to quell those fears. Sierra Leoneans have generally welcomed the president’s assurance that the 2028 elections will be held and that power will be transferred to whoever is elected as the next democratic president.
If he does, it will be the second time Dr Julius Maada Bio voluntarily hands over power. He first handed over authority to Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah after the 1996 general election. President Bio publicly reaffirmed his commitment to constitutional norms and electoral certainty, assuring domestic and international observers of his support for democratic continuity in Sierra Leone ahead of the country’s next electoral cycle.****
