Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will soon introduce new passports, according to a recent announcement by the president of their confederation. In a televised address on September 15, Malian President Col. Assimi Goïta stated that the new passports are designed to harmonize travel documents within the confederation and facilitate global mobility for their citizens. The…
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the US of obstructing UN Security Council resolutions aimed at a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Speaking after a discussion with his Egyptian counterpart, Lavrov criticized the US for allegedly blocking measures to halt the violence and dismissed a US-backed resolution as ineffective. Russia abstained from voting…
The death toll from Typhoon Yagi in Myanmar has risen to over 220, with nearly 80 people still missing, according to the military government. The storm, which hit northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar in early September, has claimed over 500 lives across the region. In Myanmar, the storm triggered severe floods and mudslides, destroying…
The Institute of Governance Reforms (IGR), in partnership with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) and several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), hosted a stakeholder engagement on Friday to validate draft development plans for four local councils in Sierra Leone. The goal was to engage MDAs and the private sector in shaping local…
On September 13, 2024, Sierra Leone’s Arms and Ammunition Commission, in partnership with the Small Arms Survey, officially validated the National Action Plan (NAP) on Weapons and Ammunition Management. The event, held at Swiss Hotel in Freetown, marks a major step in strengthening the country’s security through improved control of weapons. The NAP, developed since…
In a bid to tackle unemployment and close skill gaps in Sierra Leone, 50 youths have been certified in Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) training. The certification ceremony, held on September 13, 2024, at Eastern Polytechnic, Freetown, marked a milestone in an initiative funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) aimed at boosting youth…
The Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) is grappling with a major issue, as 60% of its water is classified as Non-Revenue Water (NRW), according to the World Bank’s 2024 report on Sierra Leone’s water supply. NRW stems from physical losses, such as leaks (40-45%), and commercial losses, including theft and faulty meters (15-20%). This unbilled…
Sierra Leonean football official Kasho J. Holland Cole has once again been appointed as a CAF Confederation Match Commissioner for the 2024/2025 CAF competitions. He will oversee the match between Ghana’s FC Nsoatreman and Algeria’s FC Constantine on Friday, 13th September 2024, at Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana. Kasho recently officiated the Gambia vs Tunisia match…
Three days after a tragic shipwreck near Mbour claimed over 125 lives, search operations continue with slim hopes of finding survivors. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye visited the site, expressing deep sorrow and extending condolences to the affected families. He condemned human trafficking networks for exploiting desperate youth with false promises of a better life. Critics,…
Severe flooding in northeastern Nigeria has left 30 people dead and over a million affected, according to authorities. A dam collapse in Borno state on Tuesday caused extensive flooding, displacing residents and submerging 15% of Maiduguri, the state capital. The dam collapse, triggered by unusually heavy rains, is the worst in 30 years. Authorities expect…