Sewa News Stream

 An X post reports on an AD newspaper article detailing a tense exchange at a summit, where the Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof urged Maada Bio to extradite Jos "Bolle Jos" Leijdekkers, a fugitive convicted of smuggling over 1,000 kg of cocaine valued at €50 million. Leijdekkers, a 33-year-old Dutch national wanted since 2023, evaded capture by relocating to Sierra Leone, marrying Bio's daughter Agnes in early 2024, and integrating into the president's inner circle, as evidenced by photos of him at official events alongside family members. This family connection has complicated bilateral ties, with Dutch officials viewing it as state-sponsored protection for a major European drug trafficker, potentially affecting Sierra Leone's international aid and cooperation amid ongoing scrutiny of Bio's administration. Prime Minister Dick Schoof has urgently requested the President of Sierra Leone to extradite cocaine dealer "Bolle Jos" Leijdekkers....

Today marks a significant milestone: the 10th anniversary of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. While we take a moment to recognize this important day, our focus shifts to a troubling situation in Freetown. Recent reports from the Freetown City Council (FCC) highlight a disturbing rise in the number of deceased individuals found on the streets, especially among the youth. This tragic increase in fatalities has been mainly linked to the emerging Kush pandemic, raising urgent public health concerns. Since January 2025, the FCC has reported a staggering total of 253 bodies collected , putting immense pressure on the city's mortuary facilities and burial operations. The situation at the Connaught Hospital mortuary has become increasingly difficult, with a growing number of unclaimed and unidentified bodies. Similar issues have arisen in other regions, complicating efforts to accommodate additional remains. There have been instances where caretakers, o...

  It's been ten months since reports emerged that convicted Dutch drug smuggler Jos Leijdekkers was in Sierra Leone. Some newspaper articles  suggested he may have been in the country for more than two years before this revelation, indicating that Sierra Leone's president and his men welcomed the drug dealer with open arms.  In February, the Dutch Minister of Justice and Security  reportedly expressed frustration over the Sierra Leone government's lack of cooperation. Dutch media indicated that the minister was becoming increasingly impatient with Sierra Leone's handling of the situation. According to the NL Times , in September, Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison and fined 24,000 euros by a Belgian court for smuggling 3,500 kilograms of cocaine in Antwerp in 2020. The report also stated that in 2024, he received a 24-year sentence for orchestrating six cocaine shipments totaling 7,000 kilograms, committing a violent robbery in Finland, an...

The University of Sierra Leone is a public university located in Freetown. Established in 1827 as Fourah Bay College, it was the first Western-style institution of higher learning in West Africa. Freetown was even nicknamed "the Athens of West Africa" due to the presence of the college. Currently, the USL consists of three constituent colleges.  Fourah Bay College is the oldest college and specializes in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, and Sciences. The Church Missionary Society founded it. The Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) was established in 1980. IPAM initially trained civil servants but now serves as the university's business school. It offers programs in business, IT, finance, and public administration. The College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) focuses on training medical and health professionals. The university is featured in Times Higher Education 's global "Impact Rankings," which assess universitie...

  Sierra Leone's passport is currently ranked #70 among residence and citizenship by investment programs. Meanwhile, Sierra Leone's "Passport Bros" are offering passports for prices as low as $140,000. Why is this occurring? It is due to President Maada Bio and his associates being deeply involved in corruption, which allows kleptocracy to prosper at the expense of the citizens. No country in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region should be selling passports for $140,000, except Sierra Leone, where it is reported that a drug lord finances the president. To acquire citizenship in Sierra Leone, one must make a donation of $100,000, purchase property worth $200,000, invest $1.5 million, provide $400,000 per investor, and pay $150,000 to the University of Sierra Leone. Some non-Africans in Sierra Leone are still denied access to its heritage and business opportunities, despite many having contributed significantly more than the $140,000 fee. In comp...

  The World Bank recently released the Sierra Leone Country Economic Memorandum, which provides a roadmap for achieving sustainable development and creating jobs for the country's growing workforce. Despite possessing many assets and showing signs of recovery from the devastating civil war, Sierra Leone remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The nation boasts rich mineral resources, a young population, abundant arable land, and favorable rainfall, all of which contribute significantly to its economic potential. Although some positive steps have been taken to harness this potential—including a successful transition from the civil war and subsequent stability—much progress is still necessary. The country is significantly underperforming relative to its capabilities and is lagging behind other similar nations, with over a quarter of the population living in extreme poverty. Notably, Sierra Leone ranked 27th lowest in per capita GDP in 2002 but now ranks 11th lowest. The go...