Author: Tunde

Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of Sierra Leone, was warmly received by senior Guinean officials and citizens in Conakry as a special guest of President Mamadi Doumbouya on Guinea’s 68th Independence Day. His visit follows discussions with Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah aimed at strengthening the Sierra Leone-Guinea partnership. These high-level talks, held on 14 September 2026, focused on key issues such as migration, border security, and trade. Additionally, they addressed concerns regarding Sierra Leoneans living and working in Guinea. The two nations are deepening their bilateral cooperation, drawing on shared history and connections between their peoples. Guinea, which…

First Lady Remi Tinubu has announced that Nigeria’s economy is stabilising, with increasing foreign reserves and decreasing inflation. Speaking at the One-Day Women Stakeholders’ Mobilization and Empowerment Pre-Inaugural Summit in Abuja on Monday, Tinubu highlighted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms are attracting investors back to Nigeria and supporting farmers, while students are now able to access loans to fund their university education. The summit, themed “Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0: From Reforms to Prosperity: One Voice, One Movement, One Choice, One Mandate 2027,” saw participation from APC delegates and various women’s associations, including the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ)…

The co-pilot of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 planned to crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, according to reports from US and Israeli media sources involved in a multinational investigation. The Omani co-pilot, identified as Hamam Al-Hammami, is believed to have acted alone. After attacking captain Smit Machchhar with an axe, Al-Hammami intended to follow normal approach procedures before crashing the plane, which had over 180 passengers on board. Sources say the co-pilot had been preparing for the attack for several months and previously travelled to Israel to gather information. There are also claims that he considered crashing another flight…

In 2002, following a brutal civil war, 494 registered civil society organisations established the National Election Watch (NEW) in Sierra Leone. Its goal was to monitor and support electoral processes, thereby enhancing public confidence in democracy. Now, over twenty years later, NEW is a significant presence during elections, with many households awaiting reports from its observers and familiar public messaging, particularly from spokesperson Marcella Samba-Sesay. Its reputation for forthrightness and extensive network has made it a vital institution for electoral accountability in Sierra Leone. However, NEW currently faces a troubling predicament. In April, internal disputes arose during its leadership elections,…

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed that a military aircraft has crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, after going missing from radar while travelling from Benin to Lagos. Keyamo announced the aircraft, registered as NGR 931, lost contact with air traffic controllers at around 9:13 AM. He stated, “I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, en route to Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive.” The…

Eve Irvine has welcomed Felipe Krause, head of Oxford University’s Brazilian Studies Programme, to discuss Brazil’s election. Krause describes the current political climate as increasingly polarised and notes that many citizens are feeling “tired” of the ongoing divisions, believing the political class is merely repeating past failures. The first round of elections shows a strong consolidation of the Brazilian right in government. An expanding middle class in Brazil is showing growing interest in entrepreneurialism and individualism, values that “Bolsonarismo” has effectively appealed to. Source link

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has urged Sierra Leoneans in the United States to strengthen their collaboration with the Government to tackle national challenges. He outlined plans to enhance consular services, boost diplomatic representation, and utilise diaspora expertise for national development. Swaray made his remarks at a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, 1 October 2026, at the White Oak Community Center in Maryland, organised by the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C., and Berny’s Hope Foundation-USA. This meeting is part of his engagement with the Sierra Leonean community in the US, focusing on diaspora expertise…

As African governments increasingly turn to automation for public services, serious questions arise about accountability and fairness. Issues such as wrongful credit removal for pensioners and misidentifications by police facial-recognition technology highlight the risks of relying on algorithms without oversight. Dr TK Pooe, a public policy expert at the African School of Governance, emphasises that while technology is sold as a solution to bureaucratic inefficiencies, it can also obscure governmental responsibilities. “You cannot use code to hide from your constitutional obligations,” he said during a recent podcast discussion. Research from the Tayarisha African Centre of Excellence in Digital Governance reveals…

Ronen Shalev is grappling with the impending third anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack, which claimed nearly 1,200 lives in Israel. Speaking to DW, he describes the physical toll of this emotional burden: “You start shivering… It’s a difficult time and you feel it in your body.” Shalev’s son Roee was injured during the attack at the Nova Party, where around 400 attendees were killed by Hamas militants. Tragically, Roee’s partner, Mapal Adam, was among the dead, while his daughter Lior managed to escape. Shortly after the incident, Shalev’s wife, Gavriela, was found deceased in a burnt car, having…

Sierra Leone First Lady Fatima Maada Bio delivers a powerful appeal at the United Nations General Assembly, calling for stronger global action to eliminate child, early and forced marriage. Speaking on behalf of Sierra Leone and the Organization of African First Ladies for Development, Fatima Maada Bio introduced draft resolution A/80/L.99, which proposes November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage. The initiative is backed by Sierra Leone and 65 co-sponsoring member states. She urged governments to strengthen laws and enforcement, protect girls from violence and exploitation, expand access to education and healthcare,…