Sierra Leone Court Ruling Strengthens Women’s Property Rights in Marriage

The Court of Appeal in Sierra Leone’s North-Eastern Province has delivered a landmark judgment reinforcing the property rights of married women, setting a significant precedent for matrimonial disputes across the country.

The ruling, handed down on July 20, 2026, arose from the case of Francis Tarawallie v. Satia Koroma, in which the court unanimously ruled in favour of Satia Koroma, who was represented by legal practitioner Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara.

In its decision, the court affirmed that women are entitled to a share of property acquired during marriage where there is clear evidence of financial contribution or where circumstances demonstrate a common intention between spouses to jointly own the property.