SUBSCRIBE NOW

SIGHT

Be informed. Be challenged. Be inspired.

Nearly 55 million people face hunger in West and Central Africa

Dakar. Senegal Reuters Soaring prices have helped fuel a food crisis in West and Central Africa, where nearly 55 million people will struggle to feed themselves in the coming months, UN humanitarian agencies warned on Friday. The number facing hunger during the June-August lean season has quadrupled over the last five years, they said, noting […]

Sierra Leone declares national emergency on drug abuse

Freetown, Sierra Leone Reuters Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has declared a national emergency on substance abuse following calls on his government to crack down on the rising use of a cheap and sometimes deadly synthetic drug known as kush. The highly addictive mix of marijuana, tentanyl and tramadol has caused hundreds of deaths […]

Sierra Leone charges ex-President Koroma with treason over foiled coup

Sierra Leone's former President Ernest Bai Koroma addresses an international observers briefing on Kenya's general election organised by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission in Nairobi, Kenya on 11th August, 2022

Freetown, Sierra LeoneReuters Sierra Leone’s ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma has been charged with four offences including treason for his alleged role in a failed military attempt to topple the West African country’s government in November, a court in the capital Freetown said on Wednesday. The court’s decision could escalate tensions in Sierra Leone coming after […]

Sierra Leone charges ex-president’s guard, 11 others over failed coup

President of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma waves to supporters of the ruling All Peoples Congress party during a rally ahead of the 7th March presidential election in Makeni, Sierra Leone on 5th March, 2018.

Freetown, Sierra Leone Reuters Sierra Leone authorities have charged 12 people with treason in connection with a failed coup in November, including a member of former President Ernest Bai Koroma’s security detail, the government said on Tuesday.  Gunmen attacked a military barracks, a prison and other locations in Sierra Leone on 26th November, freeing about […]

Sierra Leone information minister says weekend attack was a failed coup

Sierra Leone's Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh visits the central Pademba Road prison after unidentified gunmen attacked a military barracks and the prison, following which inmates escaped, in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 27th November, 2023.

Freetown, Sierra LeoneReuters Sierra Leone’s government said on Tuesday that attacks on several locations in the capital Freetown on Sunday were a failed attempt to overthrow the government led mostly by bodyguards of former President Ernest Bai Koroma. The West African nation’s information minister Chernor Bah, and the chief of defence staff Lt General Patrick […]

Twenty killed in Sierra Leone attack and nearly 2,000 prisoners escape

Freetown, Sierra LeoneReuters Twenty people were killed and nearly 2,000 inmates escaped during Sunday’s attack on a military barracks, a prison and other locations in Sierra Leone, officials said on Monday.  The West African country was thrown into panic in the early hours when the assailants sent gunfire ringing across the capital Freetown. The government […]

Sierra Leone President says calm restored after barracks attack

Hooded armed men in military fatigues stand on a street after unidentified gunmen attacked military barracks and attempted to break into an armoury at Congo Cross roundabout in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 26th November, 2023.

Freetown, Sierra LeoneReuters Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio said on Sunday that most of the leaders of an earlier attack on a military barracks in the capital Freetown had been arrested, adding that security operations and an investigation were ongoing. “We will ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” Bio said in an address […]

Sierra Leone election observers flag “statistical inconsistencies”

Sierra Leone's President and ruling party candidate Julius Maada Bio speaks to journalists after casting his vote for national elections at a polling station in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 24th June, 2023.

Dakar, SenegalReuters European election observers in Sierra Leone said there were “statistical inconsistencies” in the presidential results published by the electoral commission, which declared President Julius Maada Bio the winner of Saturday’s vote.  The European Union Election Observation Mission called on the commission on Wednesday to promptly publish disaggregated results data per polling station to […]

Sierra Leone President wins re-election, says electoral commission

A voter casts her ballot for the national election at a polling station in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 24th June, 2023.

Freetown, Sierra LeoneReuters Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio secured victory in the West African country’s presidential election with more than 56 per cent of the votes to avoid a run-off against main rival Samura Kamara, the electoral commission said on Tuesday. Bio, 59, was running for re-election after a first term marred by growing […]