U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the removal of Prince Solomon Knox, a 62-year-old Sierra Leonean national, which took place on March 1st. Knox was arrested by ICE in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 4th, following previous convictions for visa fraud and domestic assault. He had also lied in his U.S. visa residency application about his past affiliations with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Knox has been deported back to Freetown, Sierra Leone.

March 5, 2025 | St. Louis, MO | Enforcement and Removal | US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

An Indian pharmaceutical company is producing unlicensed, highly addictive opioids—a mixture of tapentadol, a potent opioid, combined with the muscle relaxant carisoprodol—and illegally exporting them to West Africa. This has led to a significant public health crisis in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d'Ivoire, as revealed by a BBC Eye investigation.

BBC Eye Investigations | BBC World Service

Ishmeal Alfred Charles, the driving force behind the Sick Pikin Project, recently shared his vision in an exclusive interview with Awoko Newspaper. He expressed a strong desire to serve as an ambassador—not in the traditional political sense—but as a representative of Sierra Leone on the global stage, dedicated to humanitarian efforts, particularly in advocating for healthcare. As part of his broader vision, he urges the government to require mining companies to allocate a percentage of their royalties to emergency healthcare for children.

Courtesy: Ishmeal Alfred Charles

Sierra Leone must face a lawsuit by U.S. law firm Jenner & Block seeking to recover more than $8 million in fees from the West African country for several years of legal work, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C. on Thursday rejected Sierra Leone’s arguments for now that there was no valid contract between it and the firm and that the country was immune as a foreign sovereign. The case is Jenner & Block v. The Republic of Sierra Leone, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 1:22-cv-03599-TSC.

Sources: Reuters

On Friday, December 20, 2024, our nation experienced a pivotal moment in its democratic journey. They [Members of Parliament] swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, promote democratic accountability, and safeguard the institutions vital for transparency. Yet, in a collective failure, members of parliament let down the people of Sierra Leone.

Theo Edwards for YAME

ICASL cleared both the Former Auditor-General and her Deputy of wrongdoing. The Auditor-General, Mrs. Lara Taylor-Pearce, and the Deputy Auditor-General, Mr. Tamba Momoh of the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL), were simply doing their jobs. According to the ICASL, Taylor-Pearce and Mr. Momoh "acted in the public's best interest, upheld professional standards, and adhered to international auditing standards and guidelines."

Theo Edwards for YAME

Mali says the Alliance of Sahel States comprising itself, Burkina Faso, and Niger, will introduce new biometric passports to reflect the new union as part of their withdrawal from a West African bloc in favor of a new Sahel alliance after military leaders seized power in all three countries.

Reuters

Public Transport Transformation in the Western Rural and Western Urban Area. Listen to these audio to understand the future of public transport route planning.

Courtesy: Victor Ako Mengot; Transportation & Institutional Development Consultant

The United States Embassy, Sierra Leone, in a Press Release on May 8, 2024, DFC, Sierra Leone Promote Access to Reliable Energy with up to $412 Million in Additional Financing and Political Risk Insurance.

UPDATE: September 27, 2024: The United States Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Sierra Leone signed a $480 million compact agreement to strengthen Sierra Leone’s energy sector.

With a youthful population poised to drive economic innovation, Africa stands at a pivotal moment of transformation. In a world where connectivity is key, Africa seeks to leverage its uniqueness for growth and development. Recognizing the need for collaboration across sectors, the Retreat calls for unified efforts to harness Africa's strengths and resources. By fostering dialogue and action, the event aims to pave the way for a prosperous and sustainable future.

Theo Edwards for YAME

The recently collapsed structures at Kissy Shell as well as past incidents, require urgent attention. This is a multiple occupancy building, and there is a standard process for approving such structures in most countries around the world.

Courtesy: Victor Ako Mengot

The Tribunal’s interpretation of these drafts as separate reports reflects a lack of understanding of standard audit procedures. She described the Tribunal's fundamental misunderstanding of the audit processes within the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL). The Tribunal claimed two separate reports were prepared for the same audit, a conclusion Taylor-Pearce refuted as misleading. She explained that draft reports are typically prepared by audit teams and reviewed by the Deputy Auditor-General before the final report is signed off.

Article by @sierraeyesalone

Kingtom, Sierra Leone: In an Era of 'Green World,' this project aims to protect the environment and improve sanitation, especially in impoverished areas. The charcoal is produced through carbonization to ensure no lingering smell from the human waste.

By Theo Edwards

U.S. Delegation Attending Liberia's 177th Independence Day. National Flag Day in Liberia is celebrated on August 24th to honor the adoption of the flag in 1847. The flag symbolizes courage, moral excellence, and the African continent. It represents the country's sovereignty, independence, and unity. This day is a reminder of Liberia's rich history and the enduring significance of its national emblem.

The Editorial Press

A Disconnect from Sierra Leone's Reality. A man who lived in a London council flat for 22 years, unemployed and seemingly disconnected from the everyday struggles of making ends meet, somehow rises to become the President of Sierra Leone. You cannot lead a country into prosperity with a complete disconnect from its history and problems.

By Reggie Cole | 24th August 2024

"Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown."

The Rwandan government clamped down on more than 5,600 churches, including 100 cave churches. And the reason? There is a failure to comply with safety and health regulations, such as poor soundproofing and the transactional nature of many places of worship. In a statement, RGB said that the inspection focuses on verifying that religious organizations have registration documents issued by the board. The churches also need to show letters of collaboration with the district authorities. 

By Theo Edwards for YAME

Being on the UN Security Council has nothing to do with any so-called unique status that Sierra Leone holds at the UN, neither has it anything to do with Maada Bio and SLPP’s leadership credentials. Maada Bio and his brigade wanted to pretend that Sierra Leone was the first African country to be at the UN Security Council.

By Chernoh Alpha M. Bah — Africanist Press

Agenda 2063 encapsulates not only Africa’s Aspirations for the Future but also identifies key Flagship Programmes that can boost Africa’s economic growth and development and lead to the rapid transformation of the continent.

African Union (AU)

The skies have unleashed a deluge upon Freetown, with a relentless downpour almost daily since the beginning of July. “I make light and create darkness. I give blessings and create disasters. I, the LORD, do all these things” ~ Isaiah 45:7 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW). It is unclear whether this is a result of climate change, but ‘Freetonians,’ as the city mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, often refers to the city's residents, has likely contributed to its own demise through environmental mismanagement, urban planning, housing, and a political system that has not effectively addressed the issue since the 80s that we so deserve this wrath.

By Theo Edwards for YAME

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced Thursday that it had sanctioned the group, which it dubbed the Abdul Karim Conteh Human Smuggling Organization, as well as Conteh, his wife, and two others. The Treasury Department said the organization provided migrants with fraudulent documents; leveraged the U.S. financial system to receive payments; transported migrants to the border and advised them on how to cross; and maintained affiliations with other groups in other countries who helped funnel the migrants to Mexico.

By ALEX RIGGINS | alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com | The San Diego Union-Tribune