Sewa News Stream

In industrially advanced countries, former presidents attending conferences is a common occurrence, and their experience and expertise are typically valued in international and regional events. By contrast, in Sierra Leone, President Julius Maada Bio has persistently sidelined his direct predecessor, Ernest Bai Koroma (pictured in an undated photo from the swearing-in ceremony for his second term), along with other former leaders who came to power through constitutional processes. Recently, members of Bio's administration, some of whom have previously expressed extreme views regarding opposition supporters and parties, have advocated for the return of Ernest Bai Koroma by supporting the dismissal of charges that labeled him an enemy of the state. These charges also placed his former appointees and family members at risk. Koroma held the last free and fair elections in 2018, which ushered in Julius Maada Bio as president.  Against this political backdrop, the contested 2023 presiden...

Ahead of Sierra Leone's flag day on April 27, social media commentators have expressed concerns that the next elections may be influenced well before 2028, following the widely discredited June 2023 elections.  Jeminatu Sesay shared an infographic highlighting the roles of institutions, funding, and narrative in shaping election outcomes before voting occurs.  She urged Sierra Leoneans to scrutinize the institutions overseeing the process, those setting the rules, the sources of political funding, and the individuals shaping public opinion.  Another analyst, Alfred Peter Conteh, noted that election laws were not upheld in 2023 . Edmond Alpha, chairman of the Elections Commission of Sierra Leone, who declined to publish the 2023 results as required by law, has indicated he does not plan to change his approach in 2028.  Last week, the embassies and high commissions of Germany, Ghana, Iceland, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom expressed support for the International Mora...

There is very little space, political or otherwise, for women to truly thrive in Sierra Leone. When  they are not being locked behind bars and denied bail, as in the case of Zainab Sheriff, they are  publicly defamed, bullied online, and body-shamed, as Marcella Macauley has repeatedly  experienced. Many of these women are not merely participants in national life, they are contributors to Sierra  Leone’s progress. In a country still struggling under the weight of corruption and weak  institutions, they have helped push conversations about accountability, transparency, and social  development forward. Yet time and again, obstacles appear in the paths of women who attempt  to lead, speak, or challenge the status quo. This piece will not even attempt to unpack the full range of challenges facing women in Sierra Leone, like domestic violence, sexual violence, and systemic discrimination, because doing so would require confronting a reality that r...

"What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yet what can I give Him: Give my heart," comes from the famous Christmas carol, "In the Bleak Midwinter," a poem by Christina Rossetti. It expresses the idea that the most valuable gift a person, regardless of their wealth or status, can offer is their devotion, love, and heart, which may not count for much in modern geopolitics.  In 2024, Samura Kamara, a popular presidential candidate in Sierra Leone's June 2023 elections, shared a somber post on social media. His message is even more poignant in light of recent events. Read on The triumph of democracy in Sierra Leone is crucial: can we draw parallels with international reactions to the aftermath of the Venezuelan presidential elections? In examining the outcomes of the recent Venezuelan presidential election and the June 24, 2023, Sierra Leone presidential election, several notable paralle...

  In 2021, numerous reports stated that a by-election in Koinadugu, the largest district in Sierra Leone and one of the least densely populated, had been taken over by Lahai Lawrence Leema, then deputy minister of internal affairs and a retired military officer of the Republic of Sierra Leone. " It has become too much the case that thugs overrun our polling stations during bye-elections with the police throwing their hands in the air as if it is not their job to keep the peace ," wrote Vickie Remoe, a media producer. A leading voice opposing violence and intimidation, Remoe praised the Sierra Leonean observers of National Election Watch (NEW) for their commitment to transparency at polling stations. The following week, on Africa Young Voices (AYV) television, Leema attacked Marcella Samba Sesay while on-air with AYV's Samuel Wise Bangura. Before being evacuated from Sierra Leone for her safety after the June 2023 elections, Sesay served as the executive director of the Ca...

 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....

  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...

  Fifty years ago, on July 19, 1975, I looked in fear at the lifeless body of Ibrahim Bash-Taqi hanging on the high brick wall of Pademba Road in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Taqi was executed by hanging alongside former finance minister Mohamed Forna, Army Lieutenant Habib Lansana Kamara, and Paramount Chief Bai Makarie N'silk at Pademba Road. The turmoil began after a disputed election in 1967, which led to a military coup that overthrew Sierra Leone's civilian government following independence. This military rule lasted just over a year and ended with another coup that reinstated Siaka Stevens, whose All People's Congress (APC) had won the 1967 elections. Between 1968 and 1969, tensions grew between the APC and the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), which had governed from 1961 to 1967. Dissatisfaction increased among some APC members, leading to the formation of the National Democratic Party (NDP). This party fueled opposition against the APC through newslett...

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...

Disturbing video footage on social media shows Guineans smashing rocks and huge boulders onto the bodies of people lying on the road. Worrisome footage shows several people looking demonstrably lifeless in the middle of the street in broad daylight. Despite coming into close contact with the gruesome scene, a young boy and several pedestrians are captured strolling past the violence on the street, which commenters believe may be located in Conakry. The bizarre footage mimics an incident in South Africa , where scores of migrant Africans were assaulted or killed, news wires reported at the time. There have been no public statements following the raid on migrant settlements, resulting in unknown Sierra Leonean fatalities.