West Africa: Court Allows Opposition Flagbearer Aspirant’s Appeal to Proceed

The High Court in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on June 18, 2026 ruled that an appeal by Zainab Sheriff, a flagbearer aspirant of the All People’s Congress (APC) may proceed to a full hearing on 2 July 2026. The ruling comes despite opposition from the prosecution at a preliminary hearing.

Zainab Sheriff was sentenced on April 14, 2026 to four years imprisonmen for incitement and threatening language under the Sierra Leone’s Public Order Act of 1965. Her lawyers have since been challenging her…