Sewa News Stream

  In this archive photo , Sierra Leone's First Lady, Fatima Bio, is seen speaking as president of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development to promote their mission for women and children across Africa. Clearly, Mrs. Bio takes her role as a political spouse seriously. She also understands that her support—or lack of support—for various interest groups can spark debate and create challenges, especially during party conventions, where she was recently confronted by her opponents for endorsing her preferred candidates. However, she believes that being mocked, harassed, and humiliated in Parliament just moments before her husband, President Maada Bio, was scheduled to deliver his speech at the State Opening went too far. Her protest against the unprecedented disrespect shown to a first lady has received sympathy from some parts of the Sierra Leonean public. While members of parliament and her political rivals have been quick to mock her, many people acknowledge the chall...

Last week, several newspapers reported that a district court in the Netherlands had ordered convicted drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers to pay over 96 million euros to the Dutch state. This ruling followed a confiscation procedure that initially sought a record 221 million euros in criminal assets. Prosecutors believe that Leijdekkers, a central figure in international cocaine smuggling, is receiving high-level protection in Sierra Leone. This week, the Gleaner newspaper reported that Abu Bakarr Naorie, also known as Buba NaOrie, has been identified as the mastermind behind a suspicious boat believed to be involved in cocaine transportation in Freetown. Naorie is the owner of a fishing company and is currently under scrutiny due to the recent discovery of a vessel suspected of transporting illegal substances. The fishing company has been accused of using its fishing harbor and cold storage facilities as fronts for drug smuggling operations. According to allegations, Naorie oversaw these ...

The monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak in Sierra Leone has expanded over the past six weeks, with cases reportedly rising by over 71% in just one week.  According to a leader from the Africa Centers for Disease Control's Mpox Incident Management Support Team, there are indications that Sierra Leone accounts for half of Africa's confirmed Mpox cases.  However, Mpox is more than just numbers; it is a human story that Sierra Leoneans are honoring through heartfelt social media tributes . Among the deceased is Akmed Sidi Kamara, a mechanical engineer who became an entertainment business owner known as "Black Coffee" to his fans.  After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Fourah Bay College, Kamara pursued a career as a social media influencer, youth activist, and humanitarian, eventually becoming the CEO of Black Coffee House of Entertainment.  In his final days while battling Mpox, Kamara bravely shared his experience with the public, advocating for awaren...

On March 6, Dutch Minister of Justice David van Weel announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he had a conversation with his colleague, Alpha Sesay, Sierra Leone's Attorney General and Minister of Justice. A significant topic of discussion was the Dutch extradition request for Jos Leijdekkers , who is wanted for serious crimes. Van Weel noted strong indications that Leijdekkers is currently in Sierra Leone. He emphasized that discussions like these are vital for combating transnational organized crime. Thomas Dixon , a Sierra Leonean journalist, reported that Maada Bio has relieved Alusine Kanneh of his position as head of the immigration service after a video surfaced showing Kanneh partying with Leijdekkers, who is known as Omar Sherriff in Sierra Leone. A bulletin from Emmanuel Gaima, secretary to the president in Sierra Leone, announced that Moses Tiffa Baio has been appointed as the new Chief Immigration Officer, effective March 7. An article on FTM published on March 7...

West Africa has a rich rice cultivation history, making it an excellent region for growing this crop. Yet, experts point out that the increasing dependency on rice imports stems from a need for more significant agricultural investment, rapid population growth, and low-cost rice availability from Asia.  European colonialists once referred to parts of West Africa as the Rice Coast (Sierra Leone) and the Gold Coast (Ghana). Today, however, these regions are often called  cocaine coasts, particularly in countries like Colombia. Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated during a live government meeting that cocaine is viewed as "no worse than whiskey" and is only considered illegal because it originates from Latin America.  Colombia is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocaine, primarily supplying the United States and Europe. The country has spent decades battling drug trafficking. During the war in Sierra Leone, abducted kids were often supplied with drugs. Marijua...

This Christmas season, Sierra Leone witnessed another unsettling situation involving its president, who took the controversial step of ordering the arrest of a pop culture icon.  Known for her vibrant presence, Hawa Hunt  was detained on live television over alleged libel associated with a statement made public years ago. Just days after her arrest, Hawa appeared on camera expressing regret. She emphasized her intent to channel her energies into mental health services, imploring her supporters to rally behind her vision. This situation echoes a similar incident from four Christmases ago when another popular cultural figure was under scrutiny from the administration. Police surrounded Sylvia Blyden 's residence with overwhelming force in response to a social media post she made years prior. Blyden faced multiple arrests until she relented and apologized for her comments regarding Julius Maada Bio's military promotions. Even after this apology, reports suggested that armed indi...

Maada Bio plans to kill and bury more than 100,000 Sierra Leoneans in five years.  The murders are part of the state-sponsored pa-o-pa (terror) campaign against those who believe in constitutional democracy. During the civil war, which lasted 11 years, more than 50,000 died with almost as many maimed. 

  In the aftermath of Sierra Leone's highly contentious June elections, the government and the opposition All People's Congress (APC) inked an agreement on October 18th, presenting it as a solution to the nation's political divisions.  At first glance, it may seem like a step towards reconciliation and unity following post-election crises, but upon closer inspection, it becomes abundantly clear that this agreement is profoundly flawed and riddled with ambiguity and concerns that have grave implications for Sierra Leone's democratic future. Commentary by Basita Michael @MichaelBasita Ignores Electoral Irregularities and Lack of Transparency Remarkably, the agreement fails to acknowledge the numerous irregularities and the lack of transparency that marred the June elections despite these issues being meticulously documented in the European Union Election Observation Missions (EUEOM) Sierra Leone 2023 elections report.  The blatant disregard for the "statistical incon...

" While it is possible to find a place to rent in Sierra Leone, what makes sense price-wise doesn't come with the amenities ," writes Vickie Remoe in a recent checklist she published for Millennials and Gen Z planning to live and work in Sierra Leone. Rental properties that include amenities are priced for expatriates, Vickie cautioned. Additionally, renting in Sierra Leone comes with the financial burden of paying rent a year or two in advance. "You may be able to afford it the first time around, but depending on the kind of salary or income, continuing to do so after a year might stretch you," she said.  Reading Vickie's tips left me with more questions than answers: 1. What does she consider as amenities? Do they include, say, running water, a rain garden, a well pump in the backyard, and a solar-powered electric generator? 2. What does Vickie mean by rentals are priced for ex-pats? 3. What are the comparative rent prices across Sierra Leone? Is she talk...

Tracey Marke's grandfather was a prominent lawyer. He owned property in Hamilton, Freetown, and his son, Tracey's father, worked hard as a businessman to become the most prominent landholder in Hamilton in the 1960s.   There was a stretch of wetlands in Hamilton called " Portoh " that was used by the community. This area was eventually grabbed by local politicians, depriving Hamilton villagers of valuable food planting land. "After learning about how Prince Harding and his wife Anne Marie had been trespassing, I got a fence erected to protect the land," Tracey wrote in March 2020 . "When Prince Harding and his wife realised what was happening, they went to my caretakers with thugs. They threatened to break down Josephine Soya-Bongay's fence.  I wasn't too worried about this threat as it would be impossible to traverse land belonging to Josephine to get to mine without destroying her fence or gates. "In March 2020, I was told that Mrs. Anne ...

The logo for the 2018 World Cup was revealed by Russian organizers Tuesday, and it’s been the talk of the Internet ever since. RT reports say the emblem resembled 'The Scream' by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. Others said the emblem bore a striking resemblance to Disney's Nemo or Roger the alien from the 'American Dad' television show. In a Twitter interview Wednesday, Leslie Koroma wouldn't be drawn on the new logo, but he did have a lot to say about racism in Russian football. Leslie Koroma   @lesliepkoroma Follow @SewaNews @BlessnOkagbare Well there are quite a number of things that can be discussed but my biggest concern is that of #racism 9:37 PM - 29 Oct 2014 Leslie Koroma   @lesliepkoroma Follow @SewaNews @BlessnOkagbare  Racism towards African Players is a problem and the Russians have been one of the biggest offenders 9:38 PM - 29 Oct 2014 ·            Koroma, who heads Songhai Sport...