There was chaos in Sierra Leone’s Supreme Court on 8 October 2026 when Chief Justice Komba Kamanda ordered the arrest of senior opposition lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara. The unexpected incident unfolded as Kamara, a former Attorney-General representing the All People’s Congress (APC), was asked to remove his wig before being taken into custody.
The uproar reflects the growing tensions between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the APC, particularly over a constitutional amendment that has sparked debate over its legitimacy. The Supreme Court was set to hear preliminary arguments regarding whether the Speaker of Parliament acted correctly in declaring a constitutional amendment as passed without the required two-thirds majority vote.
Discontent had been brewing before the arrest. Kamara questioned the Attorney-General’s office about missing documents needed for the case, which he argued were essential for a fair hearing. In a heated exchange, Chief Justice Kamanda chastised Kamara for allegedly politicising court proceedings, accusing him of undermining the court’s integrity.
After Kamara persisted in his claims of unfairness regarding the proceedings, the Chief Justice retaliated by instructing him to remove his wig, a significant symbol of his role in court, before ordering his arrest.
Kamara remains in detention until the case resumes the following Tuesday. Many observers have expressed concern about the implications of this incident, suggesting that political motivations may be at play in the judiciary’s handling of such a contentious constitutional issue.
The backdrop to this drama is the interpretation of Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution, specifically concerning how constitutional amendments are passed. The SLPP is seen as needing to win this legal battle to maintain its power heading into the 2028 elections. Meanwhile, Kamanda’s actions have raised questions about judicial independence and the broader political climate in Sierra Leone, a nation still grappling with its past conflicts.
