Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991, as amended to 2022
Customary Law
  • English
    (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), (5), and (7), no law shall make provision which is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.

    (3) In this section the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, tribe, sex, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject, or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
    (4) Subsection (1) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision—

    d. with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other interests of personal law;
    e. for the application in the case of members of a particular race or tribe or customary law with respect to any matter to the exclusion of any law with respect to that matter which is applicable in the case of other persons;
    … (Sec. 27)
Customary Law
  • English
    (1) The institution of Chieftaincy as established by customary law and usage and its non- abolition by legislation is hereby guaranteed and preserved.
    (2) Without derogating from the generality of the provisions of subsection (1), no provision of law in so far as it provides for the abolition of the office of Paramount Chief as existing by customary law and usage immediately before the entry into force of this Constitution, shall have effect unless it is included in an Act of Parliament and the provisions of Section 108 shall apply in relation to the Bill for such an Act as they apply in relation to the Bill for an Act of Parliament that alters any of the provisions of this Constitution that are referred to in subsection (3) of that section.
    (3) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with, or in contravention of, the provisions of subsection (1) to the extent that the law in question makes provision for the determination, in accordance with appropriate customary law and usage, of the validity of the nomination, election, unseating or replacement of any Paramount Chief, or the question of restraining in any way the exercise of any rights, duties, privileges or functions conferred upon, or enjoyed by him, by virtue of his office or the installation or deposition of a person as a Paramount Chief.
    (4) A Paramount Chief may be removed from office by the President for any gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office if after a public inquiry conducted under the Chairmanship of a Judge of the High Court or a Justice of Appeal or a Justice of the Supreme Court, the Commission of Inquiry makes an adverse finding against the Paramount Chief, and the President is of the opinion that it is in the public interest that the Paramount Chief should be removed.
    (5) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and in furtherance of the provisions of this section, Parliament shall make laws for the qualifications, election, powers, functions, removal and other matters connected with Chieftaincy. (Sec. 72)
Customary Law
  • English
    (1) The laws of Sierra Leone shall comprise—
    a. this Constitution;
    b. laws made by or under the authority of Parliament as established by this Constitution;
    c. any orders, rules, regulations and other statutory instruments made by any person or authority pursuant to a power conferred in that behalf by this Constitution or any other law;
    d. the existing law; and
    e. the common law.
    (2) The common law of Sierra Leone shall comprise the rules of law generally known as the common law, the rules of law generally known as the doctrines of equity, and the rules of customary law including those determined by the Superior Court of Judicature.
    (3) For the purposes of this section the expression “customary law” means the rules of law which by custom are applicable to particular communities in Sierra Leone.
    … (Sec. 170)
Customary Law
  • English
    (1) In this Constitution unless a contrary intention appears—
    • “Chiefdom Council” means a Chiefdom Council constituted under the Chiefdom Councils Act;

    • “law” includes—
    a. any instrument having the force of law made in exercise of a power conferred by law;
    b. customary law and any other unwritten rules of law;
    … (Sec. 171)
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Sections 18 (Protection of freedom of movement), 22 (Protection for privacy of home and other property), 24 (Protection of freedom of conscience), 25 (Protection of freedom of expression and the press) and 26 (Protection of freedom of assembly and association).
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Chapter III on the Recognition and Protection of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Sec. 35 as amended by 2022 Amendment.