On September 20, 2024, the Legal Access Through Women Yearning for Equality Rights and Social Justice (LAWYERS) hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Freetown City Council Auditorium, focusing on the theme “Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: A Collective and Communal Responsibility.” The event gathered LAWYERS members and partners to discuss strategies for addressing…
Madam Musayeroh Barrie, Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, announced that international flights to Sierra Leone will rise to 50 by October. Speaking at the weekly government press briefing on September 17, 2024, she highlighted significant progress in attracting airlines during her tenure. When she took office, Sierra Leone had 37 weekly…
On September 17, 2024, Acting Chief Justice, Justice Nicholas C. Browne-Marke, officially opened the September 2024 High Court Criminal calendar with a call-over of ninety-four (94) criminal cases. The call-over serves to take pleas from accused individuals committed for trial by Magistrates’ Courts or indicted with a Judge’s written consent. Guilty pleas lead to immediate…
In a significant move at the United Nations, Sierra Leone voted alongside 124 member states against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The resolution, deemed “historic” by Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour, calls for Israel to end its occupation within 12 months. It passed with 124 votes in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstentions, with three…
The United Nations is set to host the Summit of the Future in New York this week. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has emphasized the need to reform the UN Security Council, highlighting that the current structure reflects issues from 80 years ago. “We can’t build a future fit for our grandchildren with systems designed for our…
Over the past nine months, 33 Congolese fishermen have been killed and 56 others injured on Lake Kivu, reportedly by soldiers suspected to be from the Rwandan Naval Force. These attacks occurred during nighttime fishing, according to the Synergy of Lake Kivu Fishermen’s Associations, which revealed the statistics during a meeting with provincial authorities, appealing…
Nicholas Haysom, head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), expressed regret as the UN supported extending South Sudan’s transitional period to February 2027. During an extraordinary meeting in Juba, Haysom stated, “We endorse this extension with real regret and disappointment,” noting that two years ago, the UN backed an extension with the…
Journalists, bloggers, and influencers from Sierra Leone recently took part in a training program focused on advanced fact-checking techniques, aimed at combating misinformation and hate speech. The event, held at the Family Kingdom Resort in Aberdeen, Freetown, from September 19 to 22, 2024, was supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and its partners….
A Tunisian presidential candidate, Ayachi Zammel, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison on fraud charges, which his attorney claims are politically motivated. Zammel, who leads the Azimoun party, was convicted of falsifying signatures required for his candidacy. Despite being imprisoned, he plans to campaign from behind bars and maintain his challenge against President…
Mary Yongai has set a new Guinness World Record for the most cosmetic makeovers in 24 hours by a single artist, completing 111 makeovers and surpassing the previous record of 96 set in 2005. A renowned makeup artist, Yongai achieved this feat in May 2024 at the Bintumani Car Park in Freetown. Her initial goal…