Freetown and The Billionaires in Leones: A Comedy of Cash

Welcome to the Land of Paper Fortunes! If you’ve ever dreamed of being a billionaire, skip Silicon Valley or Dubai—just land in Freetown with a wallet full of Sierra Leonean leones (SLL /NLe).

Forget Elon Musk and his rocket—real billionaires are in Freetown, pushing wheelbarrows full of Leones just to buy soap. Here, the title Billionaire isn’t about private islands and hedge funds. It’s about how many rubber bands you own to tie up your money stacks.

Thanks to hyperinflation, you too can walk around with stacks of notes so tall they double as a pillow. The Sierra Leonean Leone has had a troubled past, with inflation hammering its value daily and relegating it to the lower tiers of the global economy. To put it bluntly, one billion leones will not even buy you a mid-range ‘Kekus.’

pic.twitter.com/Edz65CGq0F

— Yame.space (@SpaceYame) June 13, 2025

A Mid-range Kekus

Being a Leone billionaire is like being given a Monopoly set and told that you're the richest person in the world. While your wallet may be full, your stomach might not be.

A Currency Safari

It’s insane what has happened with Africa's currency in general, despite having the world's largest physical Gold reserves and abundant, valuable commodities on the continent.

GHS 40,000. Looks calm in Ghana

This is GHS 40,000. Looks calm in Ghana— But cross into Nigeria and it swells to 4.9 million Naira— suddenly you need a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag to carry the bundles.

Not done! Jump to Uganda and it explodes into 11.5 million Uganda Shillings— forget backpack, you’re loading the notes into a pick-up truck like cement bags.

Then there’s the Leones currency: SLL | NLe. Well, will somebody please help: Forget duffels, forget trucks…

Behold, the land where one billion makes you rich on paper, but in real life, you’re still hustling for small change at Lumley Beach.

Forget push‑ups; billionaires here get biceps from hauling their notes. One trip to the market looks like you’re moving house. You don’t even carry a wallet—you bring a rice sack. Every purchase is cardio: counting out several hundred thousand just to buy mangoes while the seller looks bored halfway through.

ATMs spit out bills so rapidly you feel like you’ve won a money‑blowing game show—except the prize is worth a microwaved meat pie at the Crown Bakery on Wilberforce Street.

The Billionaire Lifestyle Siaka Stevens Edition: The Billionaire Capital Nobody Asked For

During my time at SLET, back in the days, and for a long time, you could exchange $1 (one dollar) for a few cents. And that is not even equivalent to one Leone.

What has happened to Sierra Leone's currency is insane. Being a billionaire comes with no limousines, only lorries of cash. Dinner reservations don’t involve caviar—they involve a bag of rice surviving the month. The true laughter comes from the kids, who watch their uncle boast of billions while drinking warm water. Snicked one six-year-old “uncle has billions, but no cold water in the fridge, for there is no electricity.”

Carrying around millions in Leones offers a unique workout routine. You don’t need weight when you’re lugging bundles of cash. Imagine! In the end, Leone billionaire’s life is less Picasso, more tragedy-comedy. You flaunt notes so tall they resemble manuscripts, only to trade them away for bread that tastes like betrayal.

A billion leones might stock your pantry with rice, palm oil, fish, and the occasional imported snack. Forget lobster—it’s more Maggi cubes and evaporated milk. This is not wealth, it’s cosplay wealth with no exit. A Monopoly board on steroids. A billionaire bubble that bursts the moment you try to price something. Anything!

In a nation where everyone dreams of striking it big, the true billionaires are the ones selling the tools. The rubber bands, sacks, and calculators. They are the Jeff Bezoses of every street corner.

The government insists things will stabilize, ‘Paopa, ’ ‘Trust the process, ’ it’s the only real flex left. In the meantime, the true value isn’t in the billions you carry—it’s in how many bags of rice and afternoons of generator fuel you can afford before your stack wilts under the heat of the next inflation.

YAME Digital 'All Rights Reserved'

---

The Government of Today— RELATED

'Salone is on zig-zag.' Use the Pinch gesture or Tap the blue circle on the video player to enlarge the view

Greed Abroad: FBI Nabs Ajibola Oduntan Over $100K 'Wicked' Broadway Ticket Scheme

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Ajibola Oduntan, a 47-year-old Nigerian-born Irish citizen

The fraudulent purchases triggered chargebacks from credit card companies after the performances, leaving Kentucky Performing Arts (KPA) to absorb the financial loss.

The term 'scam' is frequently used synonymously with fraud or deception and is sometimes conflated with misinformation and disinformation.

Ajibola Oduntan, residing in Ireland, was arrested by the FBI for orchestrating a scam involving $100,000 in Broadway tickets for the musical 'Wicked' in Kentucky.

Authorities allege that Oduntan purchased over 60 tickets using stolen credit card numbers and resold them on platforms like StubHub. His action caused substantial financial losses to Kentucky Performing Arts due to the refunds demanded by credit card companies. Despite attempts to mask his identity using VPNs, FBI agents traced the proceeds from StubHub sales to PayPal accounts linked to Oduntan.

A co-conspirator, known online as 'Stacy Marthins,' reportedly sold an additional 77 tickets tied to the same scheme.

According to federal prosecutors, Oduntan allegedly stole credit card information from numerous U.S. citizens to purchase at least 61 tickets to Wicked, which he then resold on StubHub, a popular ticket resale platform.

Oduntan is accused of using multiple email addresses and phone numbers to avoid detection. The scheme unraveled when U.S. travel documents linked a phone number to one of the fraudulent accounts, leading FBI investigators to Oduntan

Special Agent Daniel W. Heath uncovered a complex network of transactions involving three StubHub accounts and several PayPal accounts linked to the email addresses fenandexadex@gmail.com, romanslady001@gmail.com, and samesonbar@gmail.com. Court filings revealed that nearly $350,000 was funneled from StubHub into these PayPal accounts and subsequently transferred to Oduntan’s Revolut and Allied Irish Bank accounts in Ireland.

The breakthrough came when Oduntan applied for a U.S. visa. The phone number he provided matched one used in the fraudulent transactions, linking him directly to the scam.

Greed and How the Diaspora Got Tangled in the Web of Scam

It's all about cruising the boulevard while your wallet fills up faster than your parking meter— The greed and flashy lifestyle. ‘Get-rich-quick— ‘ Why hustle honestly when you can hustle flashy? ‘I made it... kind of.’ Because nothing screams success like a ‘bumber’ car and a bank account that rivals your neighbor’s, all earned in the most scenic roundabout way.

This trend has been notably seen among Nigerian diaspora communities engaged in various frauds and scams abroad.

Africans’ diaspora communities in particular

How misinformation contributes to a powerful enabling role by creating a distorted picture of opportunities, risks, and rewards.

Returning home as perceived 'big men' of success stories further fuels the drive by glorifying flashy lifestyles and quick riches, eroding moral boundaries, and encouraging a culture where wealth is valued over ethics. People back home are drawn to the image 'man dem werr gold-chain wae heng from neck to toe.'

Oduntan’s get-rich-quick scam fell apart, as he was unaware that the FBI routinely screens visa applications.

An arrest warrant was issued by Magistrate Judge Regina S. Edwards, but it was sealed until Oduntan arrived in the U.S. in late August.

Oduntan was taken into custody at the Grayson County Detention Center after pleading not guilty to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was formally indicted by a grand jury on September 3, and his trial is scheduled to begin on November 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

**Footnote:** Scammers often manipulate their targets by exploiting fear and greed, as these emotions are powerful and universal.

The authorities (FBI) and experts advise buyers to purchase tickets directly from venues and use secure payment methods to mitigate such risks.

Theo Edwards for YAME Digital

France Seized Assets Belonging to Equatorial Guinea's Vice President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mangue

Equatorial Guinea's Vice President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mangue

When African leaders and politicians exploit their nation's resources, they invest in properties abroad. The consequences are significant.

At the heart of the controversy is Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the first vice president of Equatorial Guinea, whose father, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has held the presidency since 1979.

On Friday, September 12, the world court— THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ) ruled for the second time that Equatorial Guinea had no plausible claim to a Paris mansion once tied to Obiang’s lavish spending, clearing the way for France to move ahead with the sale.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mangue, Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, 101-Room Mansion at the center of the dispute with French authorities. The VP was seeking to stop the sale of his 101-room mansion in Paris.

The mansion, located on Avenue Foch, was seized by French authorities as part of a corruption probe, and the court ruled that Equatorial Guinea did not have a plausible claim to get the property back or prevent its sale.

The grand 101-room mansion featured luxurious amenities, including a cinema, a nightclub, and a Turkish bath (hammam). It was allegedly financed with money taken from government funds

The dispute began when French authorities confiscated a luxury mansion in Paris, along with millions of dollars in assets, luxury cars, and other items, after Vice President Obiang Mangue was found guilty of embezzling public funds in 2017. France argued that the property was not a diplomatic mission, contradicting earlier claims made by Equatorial Guinea. Additionally, a previous court decision in 2020 confirmed that the mansion was indeed a private residence.

As a result, the International Court of Justice rejected Equatorial Guinea's request to block the sale or reclaim the property, stating that there was no proof of a diplomatic right that would require its return. Judges concluded that the claim was not plausible under international law and that France acted within legal boundaries during the investigation and seizure.

The grand 101-room mansion featured luxurious amenities, including a cinema, a nightclub, and a Turkish bath (hammam). It was allegedly financed with money taken from government funds.

Obiang Mangue has faced similar allegations and sanctions in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Brazil, for misusing public funds.

Corrupt leaders often use foreign banks, legal firms, and shell companies to conceal their illicit gains overseas while the majority of their population is drowning in poverty.

Theo Edwards for YAME Digital

U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone Bryan D. Hunt Resigns

U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone Bryan D. Hunt

U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone Bryan D. Hunt has submitted his resignation to the White House effective September 17, citing personal reasons related to family medical considerations, and will not be returning to Freetown. Current Chargé d’Affaires Jared Yancey will continue to lead the Embassy.

“US Embassy in Sierra Leone | September 18, 2025 | Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2025”

— Source: U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone Bryan D. Hunt Resigns

The U.S. Embassy in Freetown announces the resignation of U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone Bryan D. Hunt. Ambassador Hunt submitted his resignation to the White House effective September 17, 2025, citing personal reasons related to family medical considerations, and will not be returning to Freetown. Current Chargé d’Affaires Jared Yancey will continue to lead the Embassy.

Ambassador Hunt completed two years of service in Sierra Leone. During his tenure, he worked tirelessly to strengthen the U.S.-Sierra Leone partnership, advancing shared goals of health, security, and economic prosperity.

In a message to Embassy staff, Ambassador Hunt shared:

“I have loved every moment of my time in Sierra Leone and deeply admire the work you all do to advance the U.S.-Sierra Leone relationship.”

The United States remains committed to its partnership with Sierra Leone and will continue to work closely with the government and people of Sierra Leone to build on the strong foundation established during Ambassador Hunt’s tenure.

####

For media inquiries, please contact U.S. Embassy Media Coordinator Alhassan Jalloh: jalloha@state.gov

---

RELATED

“The power plant, the Western Area Power Generation Project, will be located in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, and is intended to help address the country’s rolling blackouts and expand its national electricity system to accommodate additional renewable energy solutions in the future.”

— Source: — U.S Embassy Freetown, Sierra Leone in a Press Release “UPDATE: June 18, 2024”

US Embassy Freetown – Press Release: US Government Signs US$480 Million Compact with Sierra Leone to Transform Energy Sector

DFC, Sierra Leone Promote Access to Reliable Energy

READ

---

September 18, 2025: The Africanist Press— U.S. Taxpayer Funds May Be Missing in Sierra Leone

Transaction records from the United States International Development Finance Corporation

Transaction records from the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) reveal that hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer money have been issued as loans to various multinational corporations for the construction of a power plant in Sierra Leone, which has yet to be built.

Brian Hunt in video at the time

The DFC reportedly committed over $600 million to the Maada Bio administration for the development, construction, and operation of a 105 MW combined cycle thermal power plant, along with its related infrastructure, in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This project was intended to address the electricity crisis affecting Freetown and the surrounding communities. However, despite these substantial funding commitments, construction has not commenced in the past four years.

According to project documents and corporate financial records obtained by Africanist Press, the DFC awarded these funds in multiple tranches between fiscal years 2021 and 2024 during the Biden-Harris administration. The first disbursement of $217 million occurred in 2021 under Project ID 9000093682. In 2022, the DFC provided an additional $50 million in political risk insurance (Project ID 9000104835). Furthermore, in 2024, an additional $292 million (Project ID 9000116894) and $120 million (Project ID 9000116916) were allocated for the power plant project. In total, at least $679 million has been committed over these four years to fund the construction of the power plant, yet no construction has taken place in Sierra Leone.

The pressing questions are: Where are these funds, and why hasn’t the power plant been constructed, especially since its completion was scheduled for 2023?

Attached to this update are excerpts from the DFC-funded projects database that provide evidence of funding for the construction of the Freetown Power Plant in Sierra Leone, covering the period from 2021 to 2024. This evidence is part of over 25,000 documents collected by Africanist Press as part of our ongoing investigation into corruption in the energy sector, specifically related to the Western Area Power Generation Project in Sierra Leone.

Stay tuned!

Followers' comments on The Africanist Press Facebook page.

---

“Ambassador Hunt Gone: Will Sierra Leone Get Another USA Ambassador?”

— Source: The exit of Ambassador Hunt puts Sierra Leone in a precarious position with many unanswered questions | Prof. Dr. Prince Hycy Bull | Sep 18, 2025

Aye (NBM) and Eiye (ACN) Cult Groups Clashed in Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, Shortly After the Signing Out of Students at Auchi Polytechnic

AUCHI: September 16, 2025: A clash erupted today between the Aye (NBM) and Eiye (ACN) cult groups in Auchi, Edo State, shortly after the signing-out ceremony of students at Auchi Polytechnic.

According to an eyewitness, the fight erupted at the Hybrid Hotel, but the details of the situation remain unclear.

pic.twitter.com/hyo6gkP5TU— Naija Confra (@naijaconfra) September 16, 2025

The two rival cult groups were known for violent clashes in the past.

Reports indicate that the area surrounding Auchi Polytechnic was thrown into chaos as two rival cult factions clashed, causing panic among students and residents.

Eyewitness accounts and social media posts described scenes of disorder near the campus gates, with students fleeing from the violence.

Community members and online commentators have voiced frustration over ongoing cult-related violence in academic settings.

A Twitter user, Fezi Wealth, with the handle '@TheFishProf' was livid. If only they could channel this energy to fight bad governance.

“Nigerian students must wake up. The real enemy is not Aye or Eiye, it is the ruling class that has destroyed education, killed opportunities, and reduced campuses to breeding grounds of frustration.”

— Source: Twitter: '@TheFishProf'

“Another sad reminder of how far many Nigerian youths have been misled. The so-called clash between Aye and Eiye cult groups in Auchi is not bravery, it is not resistance, and it is not liberation. It is a shameful expression of wasted energy and misdirected anger. These are failed sets of Nigerians who should have been using their strength to challenge bad government, demand jobs, defend education, and secure their future, but instead they are killing themselves over colours, signs, and empty brotherhoods that bring no progress.

Cultism in our schools is a product of hopelessness and a system that has abandoned young people. But instead of turning their frustration against the oppressors, they turn it against themselves. This is the tragedy of a country where the rulers have successfully broken the spirit of the youth. The energy that should be fueling a revolution is being poured into bloodshed and chaos inside campuses.

What is most painful is that while Tinubu and the corrupt elite are stealing billions every day, some youths are busy spilling each other’s blood over petty rivalries that will never change their condition. Tomorrow, those same politicians will use cult boys as thugs during elections, give them crumbs, and dump them back into poverty. This cycle has been repeated for decades.

Nigerian students must wake up. The real enemy is not Aye or Eiye, it is the ruling class that has destroyed education, killed opportunities, and reduced campuses to breeding grounds of frustration. The true signing out celebration should be to sign out from ignorance and blind violence, and to sign into a future of collective struggle for liberation.

Until our youths realize that the blood of a fellow student is not their enemy’s blood, but the blood of another victim like them, we will keep reading these sad stories. The true cult every Nigerian youth should belong to is the cult of justice, the cult of freedom, and the cult of revolutionary change. Anything less is a betrayal of their own future” ~ Fezi Wealth '@TheFishProf.'

This incident highlights the critical need for improved security and effective intervention measures at institutions to prevent future events and protect student welfare.

ICE Detroit Removes Suspected War Criminal and Former High-ranking Coup Leader to Sierra Leone

War criminal and criminal illegal alien Charles Emile Mbayo

September 5, 2025 Detroit, MI | Enforcement and Removal, Human Rights Violators

DETROIT — ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations removed suspected war criminal and criminal illegal alien Charles Emile Mbayo from the United States to Sierra Leone on Aug. 20. Mbayo is a former high-ranking member of the National Provisioning Ruling Council, a military junta that ruled Sierra Leone after overthrowing President Joseph Momoh in a coup on April 29, 1992.

Following the coup, the National Provisioning Ruling Council struggled to control Sierra Leone against invasion from the Revolutionary United Front, and news of coup plots spread across the capital of Freetown. On Dec. 29, 1992, the National Provisioning Ruling Council extrajudicially killed approximately 29 victims, including former government officials and others accused of planning a coup against the regime. Victims who were not already detained in prison were arrested; several were tortured, and all were summarily executed and their bodies buried in a mass grave.

Following several changes in government, Mbayo entered the United States on Jan. 9, 1998, on an F-1 student visa. He later applied to become a permanent resident, but his application was denied in July 2023.

“Our officers continue to effect the removal of alleged human rights violators to their home country,” said ERO Detroit Field Office Director Kevin Raycraft. “ERO officers are committed to public safety and national security, and removing this individual from the United States serves both those priorities.”

Mbayo has been in ICE custody since ICE Homeland Security Investigations arrested him on June 30, 2025.

“HSI is committed to ensuring that there is no safe haven in the United States for those tied to these horrific crimes,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “We will continue to investigate these allegations with the assistance of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center to seek both accountability and justice in these cases.”

The HSI-led Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate and prosecute human rights abusers in the U.S., including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. Since 2003, the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center has issued more than 79,000 lookouts for potential perpetrators of human rights abuses and stopped over 390 human rights violators and war crimes suspects from entering the U.S.

Members of the public who have information about potential former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or the online tip form. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov.

ICE.gov News Release

The Betrayal: Or Was It?

The controversy has intensified debate on political decorum and internal dynamics within Sierra Leone’s ruling party. Critics described her actions as a breach of protocol and disrespectful.

The recent video, which has gone viral and out of control online, depicting SLPP members of parliament singing and jeering at the first lady as she walked into the Chamber of Parliament during the state opening ceremony, has evoked a plethora of critical questions and humorous views from Sierra Leoneans. Why did she receive such embarrassment from her party members?

First Lady Fatima Jabbie Bio

During the State Opening of Sierra Leone's Parliament in August 2025, a noteworthy incident occurred involving First Lady Fatima Maada Bio. As she entered the Parliament chamber, some Members of Parliament mockingly chanted phrases such as "You coco roast oh" and "D Mami e coco burn." Observers interpreted these remarks as sarcastic jabs directed at the First Lady, particularly in light of her perceived political setbacks following the recent internal elections of the Sierra Leone People's Party.

"Cocoa Roast!" Krio adage meaning yours is better off. But when used mockingly, it implies “you’re burnt!". In any case, “hint know en master kaba slot know en missus"(The hint knows its master) As the chaos in the SLPP camp rages on, na watch en listen we get. Let the music play

— Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK) (@JFKSalone) August 9, 2025

In a notable deviation from established protocols, Fatima Bio decided to remain seated as President Julius Maada Bio and Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh entered the chamber. Her choice to stay seated, despite instructions for attendees to stand, raises questions about the symbolism and implications of her actions during this significant political event.

The First Lady was also seen wearing earphones during the President’s keynote speech, which sparked speculation about her disengagement or possible tensions within the First Family.

Fatima Bio shares her side of the story in her own words.

As a politician, she recently faced a significant setback when nearly all the members of her camp who were competing for national positions with the support of the first lady lost. Her camp was unable to establish authority and presence within the party's national executive.

The Betrayal: Or Was It?

The First Lady downplayed the theatrics of SLPP MPs in parliament and attributed the behavior to a few older men who envy her. She stated that it is not the SLPP party itself that is against her. While there may be some truth to her assertion, she should be concerned that members of her own party would resort to jeering at her during such a significant state function.

Overconfident or delusional? Was it betrayal, or was it not? If there's anything she can learn from this latest setback, it is that 'politics na dorti game.'

She deserves an Oscar for this 'Salvation.'

YAME Digital

---

Historical Evolution of Political Manifestation at the Convention.

How it all started.

“I was treated like a street woman in the Well of Parliament.”

— Source: The First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, vented out displeasure.

However, there are questions over her conduct to the point where citizens are demanding that parliament summon her for contempt.

Twitter users are not having it with some notable responses. Her craziness exposed.

‘Fatima Maada Bio: A First Lady or a Political Provocateur?’ ~ Albert David @ADkamara1

In the annals of Sierra Leone's democratic journey, few figures have stirred as much controversy, division, and unease as the current First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio. Once celebrated for her advocacy on gender issues, she now finds herself at the center of a storm of political aggression, ethical breaches, and troubling authoritarian tendencies.

Fatima Bio's recent declaration of herself as a politician on social media was not merely symbolic; it marked a shift from ceremonial influence to direct political maneuvering. Her rhetoric, including the chilling invocation of "mob justice" against critics of the SLPP Government, is not only undemocratic but dangerously incendiary. In a country still healing from the wounds of civil unrest, such language is not just irresponsible, it is reckless.

Her directive to block the opposition APC from establishing a party office in Kailahun District is a blatant affront to political pluralism. Democracy thrives on dissent, not on the silencing of opposition. Yet under her influence, several prominent female voices, Femi Claudius-Cole, Zainab Sheriff, Hawa Hunt, and so on, have faced arrest, intimidation, and unlawful incarcerations. These are women who dared to speak, to protest, to challenge. Their treatment is a stain on the nation's conscience.

Perhaps most disturbing is the First Lady's silence in the face of state-sponsored violence against women. A female protester was beaten and molested inside the State House and later taken into custody. Another woman was shot dead by state security at the APC headquarters during a press conference. These are not mere political incidents; they are human tragedies. And yet, Fatima Bio, who once championed women's rights, has not issued a single condemnation. Her silence is not neutrality; it is complicity.

Her orchestration of SLPP lower-level elections excludes female representation, while ensuring her male loyalists were elected, speaks volumes about her political ambition. The suggestion that she is positioning herself for a presidential bid in 2028 is not inherently problematic, but the methods she employs are. Undermining democratic norms, attacking party stalwarts like Prince Harding and David Sengeh, and sowing division within her own party are not the marks of visionary leadership. They are the tactics of a political opportunist.

Her conduct during the State Opening of Parliament, refusing to stand for the Vice President, Speaker, and even her husband, the President, while wearing earphones during his speech, was not just a breach of protocol. It was a symbolic rejection of institutional respect. Even SLPP MPs, her supposed allies, responded with chants of disapproval. So, Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, here is the question that every Sierra Leonean, especially every woman, deserves to ask you: How do you reconcile your ambition to lead a nation with your repeated failure to uphold the ethical, inclusive, and respectful standards that leadership demands?

Leadership is not about dominance. It is about dignity. It is not about silencing critics. It is about listening. And it is certainly not about political bullying. It is about building bridges.

---

“Lamentation of Fatima Madaa Bio: The SLPP Puts the Final Nail on the Coffin of Feminism in SaLone.”

— Source: Prof. Dr. Prince Hycy Bull

The Systematic Marginalization of Women Under the SLPP Must End.

Since 2018, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has systematically marginalized women from various sectors of the country, often under the guise of politics and the law. Instead of fostering gender equality and empowerment, the party has overseen the steady deconstruction of female leadership and influence in public life.

From respected journalist and politician Sylvia Olayinka Blyden to the former Auditor General Lara Taylor-Pearce, from former Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr to health expert and administrator Femi Claudius-Cole, the pattern is unmistakable. These women have faced intimidation, legal targeting, and public vilification — not because they failed in service, but seemingly because they dared to serve with distinction.

The most recent example, Hawa Tombo, faced intense scrutiny and ridicule, and once again, much of the public remained silent — complicit in apathy. Emboldened by this silence, the SLPP has now turned inward, targeting Fatima Maada Bio, the First Lady herself — once seen as the symbolic face of feminism within the current administration.

This descent into political cannibalism, where even the party’s most visible female figure is not spared, reveals the depth of the problem. It’s no longer just about opposition politics — it’s about erasing female agency, voice, and visibility from national leadership.

This cannot go unchallenged.

All Sierra Leoneans, especially women, must recognize what is at stake. The issue is no longer partisan. It is a national crisis of representation, equity, and justice. The time for silence has passed. The time for action — real, unified, and fearless — is now.

A Call to Action for the Women of the SLPP — and All Women of Sierra Leone

To every woman within the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP): the time has come to reflect on what your continued allegiance means. The party has shown, time and again, that it has no sustainable vision for women in leadership — no commitment to genuine gender equality. From the silencing of outspoken women to the recent targeting of First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, it is now painfully clear: the SLPP does not protect or uplift its women — it marginalizes them.

This is no longer about political loyalty. It is about survival, dignity, and purpose.

I call upon all women in the SLPP to resign and join a new, united front — with Femi Claudius Cole, a woman of principle, courage, and vision — to build a strong, independent feminist movement in Sierra Leone.

We cannot continue to normalize silence. We cannot watch our sisters be humiliated, dismissed, or erased.

Women of Sierra Leone, this is the moment to rise. To speak. To organize. To lead. HOHAJOME! (Your time is now.)

When a Dutch Drug Kingpin Needed a New Base, Sierra Leone Welcomed Him With Open Arms

Jos Leijdekkers, one of Europe’s most wanted men, quietly insinuated himself into the lives and businesses of the country’s elite

European Magazine New Lines has detailed how Europe's Most Wanted Drug Lord Jos Leijdekkers corrupted the corridors of power to engage in his cocaine business in Sierra Leone.

Leijdekkers is reportedly enjoying high-level protection in Sierra Leone.

Leijdekkers is alleged to have potentially financed luxury goods and vehicles for senior government officials, hinting at a web of financial influence and quid pro quo arrangements. West Africa, including Sierra Leone, is identified as a major transit point for cocaine smuggled from Latin America to Europe.

Illustration by Joanna Andreasson for New Lines Magazine. (Photo credit: Erik Cleves Kristensen Creative commons)

The alleged high-level protection has allowed Leijdekkers to evade European authorities, despite being sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison for smuggling over 7 tons of cocaine. Evidence of these ties surfaced in January 2025 with photos and video footage appearing to show Leijdekkers at a religious service alongside Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio. Sources suggest Leijdekkers may be married to the president's daughter, further strengthening his position within the country's power structure.

“READ the article in detail, allegations about how convicted Dutch drug lord Jos Leijdekkers seemingly leveraged corruption within Sierra Leone to facilitate his cocaine trafficking operations.”

— Source: New Lines Magazine | July 28, 2025

Read the article in full.

When a Dutch Drug Kingpin Needed a New Base, Sierra Leone Welcomed Him With Open Arms

Jos Leijdekkers, one of Europe’s most wanted men, quietly insinuated himself into the lives and businesses of the country’s elite.

READ Article: New Lines Magazine

Sierra Leone Has Estimated Hydrocarbon Reserves of Approximately 30 Billion Recoverable Barrels of Oil Equivalent, According to a Recently Concluded Round of Seismic Research

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

African countries are increasingly making headlines for their efforts to develop local oil and gas reserves, despite significant opposition from foreign environmental organizations and international lenders. The most recent country to join the oil and gas sector is Sierra Leone, which has ambitious plans for its hydrocarbon resources.

According to oilprice.com, a leading online energy news site that provides extensive coverage of the global oil, gas, and broader energy sectors, including alternative energy and geopolitics, the reserve is estimated to be worth over US $2.31 trillion.

Earlier this month, Sierra Leone concluded a round of seismic research, hoping the findings would attract international oil companies after several discoveries that failed to yield commercial volumes of hydrocarbons.

U.S. Anadarko and Russia’s Lukoil explored the country’s waters but did not make any significant discoveries, although Anadarko found potentially commercial oil at several offshore sites around a decade ago.

Sierra Leone is set to launch a new licensing round later this year, based on the outcomes of a recent survey. ‘We are currently reprocessing that data with our multi-client partners, TGS, and we hope to present something to the market in October,’ stated the head of the country’s Petroleum Director General, as reported by Reuters last week.

Foday Mansaray noted that several major oil companies, including Shell, Hess Corp., Murphy Oil, and Brazil’s Petrobras, had purchased the new data.

An estimated 30 billion recoverable barrels of oil equivalent exist, with about 3 billion barrels located in a single discovery made by Anadarko over 10 years ago: the Vega prospect.

The development of the prospect has stalled since its discovery, as the company determined, based on early exploration, that it was not commercially viable. The same issue has occurred with Anadarko’s three other discoveries and Lukoil’s Savannah discovery.

Mansaray conveyed positive expectations for the future of the nation’s oil and gas sector following the discovery.

This story is still developing, and updates will follow as new information becomes available.

Theo Edwards for YAME Digital

ABOUT: Oilprice.com is owned by Advanced Media Solutions, with James Stafford as its founder and publisher. It is a leading online energy news site that offers extensive coverage of the global oil and gas sectors, as well as broader energy topics, including alternative energy and geopolitics. The site is widely recognized for its analysis and reporting and is often cited by major financial news outlets such as CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Nasdaq, and Fortune. Oilprice.com is generally regarded as mostly factual in its reporting, with a focus on energy industry news, prices, and analysis.

Teens unable to walk, mothers with rash-covered babies: How the drug kush is ruining lives

Kush has shaken this part of West Africa to its core - not just Sierra Leone but Liberia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and the Gambia. It is highly addictive, ever-evolving, and affordable, with ingredients to make it sometimes shipped in from the UK.

Yousra Elbagir

Africa correspondent @YousraElbagir

Thursday 3 July 2025 16:48, UK

The highly addictive drug creating 'zombies' in Africa

A red shipping container sits on the tarmac of Sierra Leone's Queen Elizabeth II Quay, under swinging cranes and towering stacks of similar steel boxes.

This one will likely be parked at the port permanently. The contents are suspected to be the ingredients of kush, the deadly synthetic drug ravaging Sierra Leone.

Sky News was given access to the container two weeks after it was seized.

"Preliminary testing has shown that these items are kush ingredients," says the secretary of the Ports Authority, Martin George, as he points to the marked contraband in massive multicoloured Amazon UK bags and a large blue vat of strongly smelling acetone.

He adds: "Shipped from the United Kingdom."

The container was selected for screening based on its origin. The UK is with the EU and South America on the list of places considered high risk for the import of illicit substances, fuelling the drug trade in Sierra Leone and the region.

Kush has shaken this part of West Africa to its core - not just Sierra Leone but Liberia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and the Gambia. It is highly addictive, ever-evolving, and affordable.

The sprayed grey-green marshmallow leaves are rolled in a joint like marijuana and are extremely dangerous. Samples of the drug tested by researchers contained nitazenes, one of the deadliest synthetic drugs in the world.

"It was a shock to find them in around half of the kush samples we tested, as at that point there was no public evidence they had reached Africa," says Lucia Bird Ruiz-Benitez de Lugo from Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) who independently tested kush from Sierra Leone.

"Nitazenes are among the deadliest drugs available on retail drug markets across the world - with one nitazene in kush in Freetown being 25 times stronger than fentanyl," she added.

The shocking effects of its potency can be seen on the bodies of young men and women around Freetown. Teenagers with sores eating away at their legs, unable to walk. Mothers who smoked during pregnancy carrying sickly rash-covered infants. Young men drooling from the intense high and slumped over while still standing.

They are not the fringes of Sierra Leonean society but a growing demographic of kush users searching for an escape. People riddled by poverty and unemployment, living in the dark corners of a capital city which has endured a brutal civil war and Ebola epidemic in the last three decades alone.

An entire community of men and women of all ages is held together by kush addiction under a main road that cuts through the heart of Freetown.

They call themselves the "Under de Bridge family" and live in the shadows of the overpass, surrounded by the sewage and rubbish discarded by their neighbours.

One of them tells us the harsh conditions drive him to keep smoking kush even after losing more than 10 friends to the drug - killed by large infected sores and malnutrition.

Nearby, 17-year-old Ibrahim is pained by growing sores and says the drug is destroying his life.

"This drug is evil. This drug is bad. I don't know why they gave me this drug in this country. Our brothers are suffering. Some are dying, some have sores on their feet. This drug brings destruction," he says.

"Look at me - just because of this drug. I have sores on my feet."

---

Most Read from YAME Digital: SIERRA LEONE

Netherlands’ Most Wanted Cocaine Kingpin Hiding in Sierra Leone

** Footnote ** Opening large nightclubs in Freetown, Sierra Leone, for the top 1 percent of wealthy individuals is not the solution to the lack of opportunities for the youth. What Sierra Leone needs is industrial-scale investments in agriculture and the manufacturing sectors.

Sierra Leone: Small Country, Massive Suffering: How did it all fall apart?

---

Across a stream of sewage, a young mother expecting her second child cries from fear and anguish when I ask her about the risk of smoking while pregnant.

"Yes, I know the risk," Elizabeth says, nodding.

"I'll keep smoking while I live here but I have nowhere else to go. It helps me forget my worries and challenges."

Life under the bridge is disrupted from its sleepiness by a yell. A plain-clothed police officer is chasing a child accused of selling kush.

The lucrative industry is absorbing all age groups and spreading rapidly to nearby countries - even passing through three different borders to reach the smallest nation in mainland Africa, The Gambia.

Police hunt for kush dealers in West Africa—The Video

Gambian law enforcement has cracked down on spreading kush use with regular zero tolerance drug raids. The small population is extremely vulnerable and the country is yet to open its first rehabilitation centre. Rising xenophobia seems to be mostly directed at Sierra Leonean immigrants who they blame for smuggling kush into the country.

We spoke to one man from Sierra Leone who was arrested for dealing kush in The Gambia and spent a year in prison. He says that though he feels saddened other Sierra Leoneans are being alienated as a result of the trade he was involved in, he has no remorse for "following orders".

"Do I feel guilty for selling it? No, I don't feel guilty. I'm not using my money to buy the kush, people always give me money to get kush for them," he tells Sky News anonymously.

"I needed a job. I needed to take care of my son."

Gambia's hardline approach has been credited with driving its local kush industry underground rather than eradicating it but is still hailed as the most impactful strategy in the region. Sierra Leone's government told Sky News it needs help from surrounding countries and the UK to tackle the sprawling crisis.

Transnational crime experts like Lucia Bird Ruiz-Benitez de Lugo see the rise of kush as part of a global synthetic drugs network that requires a multi-national response.

"Coordinated action is urgently needed across the supply chain, particularly focused on nitazenes - the deadliest kush component," says Ms Bird.

"Our research indicated that kush components are being imported to West Africa from countries in Asia and Europe, likely including the UK. All countries in the supply chain bear responsibility to act to mitigate the devastating and expanding impacts of kush across West Africa, a region with scarce resources to respond."

SKY NEWS' AFRICA CORRESPONDENT WINS AWARD

• Yousra Elbagir has been named a winner of the International Women's Media Foundation 2025 Courage in Journalism Awards.
• She has chronicled the current war in Sudan, which has displaced more than 13 million people, including her own family.
• Recently, Elbagir led the only television news crew to document the fall of Goma - the regional capital of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo - to M23 rebels backed by Rwanda.
• In the past year, her reports from the frontlines of Sudan's war have broadcast massive scenes of devastation inside a global humanitarian crisis.
• She said, "Our job as journalists is to reveal the truth and inform the public. Sometimes, it's about exposing the misdeeds of the powerful. Other times, it's about capturing the scale and depth of human suffering. Our job is also getting more difficult: Information wars and contempt for legacy media are growing by the day, which makes our job even more important."
• Elbagir added: "It is an honor to receive the IWMF Courage Award and join the ranks of such incredible women journalists. The courage to share the truth in our polarised world is at the heart of public service journalism, and to be recognized for it is truly affirming - it gives me faith that people are listening."

---

“KUSH na Salone: _dis borbor start e yone quick. SaLone na sad case Man!”

— Source: In Video

KUSH na Salone: _dis borbor start e yone quick. SaLone na sad case Man! pic.twitter.com/YjzXVsAA6T

— Yame.space (@SpaceYame) July 19, 2025

---

“Youth Empowerment Advocacy | ‘Leh we Fix SaLone: One Youth at a Time.’ Educational Videos!”

— Source: Dr. Prince Hycy Bull

Authorities Seek 'Africa-hiding' Drug Lord Jos Leijdekkers' US$250m Wealth

Dutch prosecutors say they are seeking to confiscate a record 221 million euros ($253 million) from one of Europe's most notorious drug barons, thought to be hiding in an African nation.

“BREAKING NEWS: The Rotterdam court seized the illegal assets amassed by Jos Leijdekkers, also known as “Bolle Jos” or “Chubby Jos,” from cocaine trafficking and gold purchases — but left out unproven claims about luxury goods.”

— Source: CRIME UPDATE: July 14, 2025

https://t.co/H8Xsf1jmkc

Drug baron “Bolle Jos” ordered to pay €96m to the Dutch state -

— Yame.space (@SpaceYame) July 15, 2025

Notorious drug lord known as "Chubby Jos" has had $112 million seized by the court as an international manhunt continues.

The notorious European drug lord. Jos Leijdekkers, also known as "Bolle Jos" or "Chubby Jos," is believed to be hiding in Sierra Leone.

Jos Leijdekkers, also known as "Bolle Jos" or "Chubby Jos," was seen with the daughter of Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio

The illegal assets were amassed through cocaine trafficking and gold purchases, although unproven claims regarding luxury goods were not included.

Leijdekkers did not attend the hearing and was unrepresented. The court confirmed that the case was heard in absentia.

With today's ruling, the court has determined the amount of money Leijdekkers earned from criminal activities. The total amounts to nearly 127 million euros, of which he must pay over 96 million euros to the State.

END UPDATE

---

---

JUNE 2, 2025: Dutch prosecutors said Monday they were seeking to confiscate a record 221 million euros ($253 million) from one of Europe's most notorious drug barons, thought to be hiding in Sierra Leone.

'Africa-hiding' drug lord Jos Leijdekker; aka. Bolle Jos | Chubby Jos | Daniel Ernst | Umar Sheriff

The illegal assets amassed by Jos Leijdekkers, also known as "Bolle Jos" or "Chubby Jos", were proceeds from cocaine trafficking, as well as purchases of gold and luxury items, the public prosecutors said.

Leijdekkers is thought to have made 114 million euros from 14 cocaine shipments over less than a year.

According to intercepted communications, the 33-year-old also spent 47 million euros on 975 kilogrammes of gold over less than six months.

Real estate and luxury goods

The prosecutors alleged that the kingpin also bought real estate and apartments in Dubai.

Luxury goods, including two Bentley cars, designer bags, jewellery, and watches, were also added to the illicit assets total, bringing the total to 221 million euros.

Jos Leijdekkers (aka. Umar Sheriff), also known as ‘Bolle Jos’ or ‘Chubby Jos’, is believed to be hiding over 4000 miles away in Sierra Leone

"This is... only a first step towards tracing Leijdekkers' assets," the prosecutors said.

A Rotterdam court last June sentenced Leijdekkers in absentia to 24 years in prison for ordering a murder and organising cocaine shipments.

---

Most Read from YAME Digital: SIERRA LEONE

Mar 7: Netherlands Most Wanted Cocaine Kingpin Hiding in Sierra Leone

---

200,000-euro reward for information on his whereabouts

He is on Europol's most-wanted list, with the European police body offering a 200,000-euro reward for information leading to his arrest.

In January, Dutch authorities said they were "absolutely certain" he was hiding out in Sierra Leone.

Images showing Leijdekkers in the company of senior Sierra Leonean officials have sparked speculation that the cocaine lord has cosied up to the West African country's political class.

Open Letter in Response to Announced Plans to Divide Freetown Into Two Cities

With two local councils

Whilst the powers granted to the President in Section 2 (2) of the Local Government Act to “declare any area as a locality,” it is also clear that subsection (3) states that you, the Minister of Finance, and the Electoral Commissioner shall, in making any recommendation to him, consider population and population density, as well as geographic contiguity, topography and the future growth or expansion of the area.

The decision has faced criticism from some local officials, including the Mayor, who argue that the split may be disruptive and has not been sufficiently discussed with the public.

The government believes splitting the city will enhance governance and enable more efficient urban management and public service delivery. This move is part of a broader effort to decentralize administration across Sierra Leone, with similar changes planned for other districts and localities.

Open letter in response to announced plans to divide Freetown into two cities from the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, OBE.

---

“I am pleased to inform Freetonians that the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs will be holding a #PublicConsultation on the proposed plans to divide Freetown into two cities with two local councils.”

— Source: UPDATE: September 16, 2025 – The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Ahead of the public consultation, I am re-sharing the open letter that I wrote to the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs on 3rd June 2025. At the date of the letter and as stated therein, Freetown City Council had not received any of its 2025 budget allocations for devolved functions. Kindly note that on 18th August 2025, Freetown City Council received the budget allocation for the final quarter of 2024. A detailed breakdown of those transferred funds is also attached. As at today, 15th September 2025, none of the 2025 budget allocation has yet been transferred to Freetown City Council and the other local councils of Sierra Leone.

I am pleased to inform Freetonians that the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs will be holding a #PublicConsultation on the proposed plans to divide Freetown into two cities with two local councils. The public consultation will be held at the Freetown City Council… pic.twitter.com/c0PT22TrIY

— Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE (@yakisawyerr) September 16, 2025

---

“For those arguing that Freetown’s population is too big and therefore the city needs to be divided, the reality is that Freetown is one of the smallest capital cities in Africa, both in terms of population and physical size!”

— Source: List of African C40 Cities ~ Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr | 17 September 2025

For those arguing that Freetown’s population is too big and therefore the city needs to be divided, the reality is that Freetown is one of the smallest capital cities in Africa, both in terms of population and physical size! In the list of African C40 Cities below, it is also… pic.twitter.com/3qmw0l93lo

— Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE (@yakisawyerr) September 17, 2025

---

**Update: September 18, 2025** Preliminary reports coming in from Freetown, Sierra Leone.

"What a SUCCESSFUL Town Hall Meeting. The overwhelming MAJORITY (98.9%) rejected the splitting of Freetown into Three Administrative Councils.

The Meeting ended abruptly when the People erupted with the chanting "NO DIVISION, NAR WAN COUNCIL WI WANT".

The Minister and Team exited The Hall stealthily, and The People continue their chants."

This is a clear message: Freetownians will not be taken for a ride, as speaker after speaker constructively spoke against the planned division.

The event unfolding— We attended the meeting at City Hall, and the response from the Krios and residents of Freetown sent the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs and his entourage scurrying stealthily out of the Hall midway through his presentation. Our side was ably represented by Ms. Nanette Thomas, Bishop Temple, Hannah Taylor, Dr. Staneala Beckley, with support from Samuel Valcarcel, Raymond De Souza George, Alhaji Gibril Cole, and the multitude who have Freetown at heart and call it home.

Only four questions were allowed before the hall erupted into the popular chants "Wi nɔr dae gree," "No divishun", and the most popular one by Dr. Oloh, "Yu coco ros oh, yu coco ros oh, ow yu manaj sotay coco ros."

Suddenly, placards sprang up around the hall spontaneously just before the last speaker's warning to the Minister and entourage not to provoke the people.

During his presentation, the Minister stated that the 2022 Local Government Act allows the President, based on the advice of the Minister of Finance and the Electoral Commissioner, to establish councils. The law does not require consultation with the public. This revelation caused an uproar in the hall, as the people's frustration had been building for some time, especially with the presence of a significant number of OSD personnel. The Minister, along with his entourage, the Mayor, and all the security forces present, were taken by surprise. Although the Mayor initially succeeded in appealing for calm, his efforts ultimately failed to quell the public's anger after his provocative remarks.

---

Oppose the Plan to Divide Freetown into Two Cities with Two Local Councils—

The Issue

The proposed division would negatively impact the inhabitants of Freetown and the descendants of the present-day Freetown. It will create a tale of two cities- East End City, the poor & congested, and the West End, the rich and good. Which city will be the new capital? The old Freetown or the new city? Socio-economic divisions breed discontent and destabilization.

The Magufuli Bridge

Officially named the John Pombe Magufuli Bridge is a major road bridge in Tanzania that spans 2.0 miles across the Gulf of Mwanza on Lake Victoria.

It connects the towns of Kigongo and Busisi in the Mwanza and Geita regions, replacing a decades-old ferry system and dramatically reducing crossing time from up to three hours to just four minutes by car.

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and China Railway 15th Bureau Group began construction in December 2019 and completed it in late 2024, with an official opening date set for June 19, 2025, at US$ 270 million.

Other infrastructure development was undertaken by Tanzanian President John Magufuli before his death.

President John Magufuli made Tanzania a middle-income country.

• He rejected a $10 billion loan from China

• He didn't go on state trips outside Africa

• He reduced the cabinet's size from 30 to 19

• He banned Government officials from foreign trips & abolished their tax exemptions.

• Magufuli accused the UK company, Acacia Mining, of illegal mining and ordered them to pay $193 billion for undervaluing Tanzania's gold exports.

• Over 250 containers of theirs were seized at Dar es Salaam port.

• They paid $300 million and gave Tanzania 16% ownership in 3 mines.

• Magufuli introduced free education in government schools in 2016. He acquired 6 Air Tanzania planes, expanded Terminal III of Julius Nyerere International Airport.

• He built the Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway, the Mfugale Flyover, the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Station, Ubungo Interchange.

• Dr. Magufuli built the Selander Bridge, the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge, Huduma Bora Za Afya, Vituo Bora Za Afya, expanded Port of Dar es Salaam, Dodoma Bus Terminal, an LNG plant, a water project, a wind farm project, Uhuru Hospital project, a gold refinery plant, and Magufuli Bus Terminal.

• The late President Dr. John Magufuli excelled in infrastructure and financial affairs. He faced numerous accusations of human rights abuses and was accused of repressing the opposition. He also banned explicit images or videos online.

During his time in office, the population of Tanzania stood at 58.7 million, with 19 cabinet ministers. He was a true son of Africa, but was a controversial figure for much of his life.

Footnote: Population  of Sierra  Leone is 7.8 million. It has 57 cabinet  ministers including  resident ministers.

YAME Digital

Sierra Leone's Problems Are Compounded by Political Design

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

We have essentially prepared our own downfall and set the stage for our collective destruction. Simply put, we are witnessing the collapse of something that was once considered powerful and beautiful.

We seem to tolerate corruption, appoint corrupt people to government positions, and expect better results. How stupid are we?

Our nation suffers under the weight of greed, corruption, tribalism, political interference, and manipulation.

Sierra Leone: Experience the Breathtaking Beauty of a Sunset in May 2025

The sky transforms into a breathtaking canvas of vibrant colors—deep oranges, fiery reds, and soft pinks blending seamlessly into the fading blue.

This beautiful scenery is set in Freetown around 6:30 PM—Imagine standing on the golden sands as the sun begins its slow descent.

The moment captures the stunning harmony of nature and vibrant culture, powerfully showcasing the warmth and resilience of the Sierra Leonean people.

Despite Sierra Leone's abundant natural resources, cultural heritage, and substantial mining activities, many citizens wonder why these advantages have not resulted in widespread economic benefits for the nation.

'What is eating the bean seed is within the bean seed.'

The issue lies in the fact that a significant number of individuals seem to lack a true sense of conscience. Day after day, it is our leaders who deny the people what is justly theirs. They consistently act against the interests of the very citizens they are meant to serve, prioritizing their agendas over the population's well-being.

They work against the best interests of the people, never for their benefit, but always to their detriment.

Why aren’t the activities of these mining companies benefiting our national economy?

One could argue that the real challenge lies not only in sharing the benefits of mining more equitably but also in ensuring that the growth it generates leads to tangible improvements in people's everyday lives. However, this issue is more complex due to factors such as greed, corruption, tribalism, political interference, and manipulation.

Dodgy mining agreements, corruption, and political interference have undermined our government and ministerial agencies responsible for regulation and revenue collection, allowing foreign mining companies to exploit our resources.

Minerals in Sierra Leone are being looted with impunity.

The way the government is entering into agreements with foreign companies to exploit the country's mineral resources is troubling.

Mining companies come to our town armed with a cadre of lawyers and a pre-prepared mining agreement that is designed to exploit our community. Are we really paying attention to the fine print, and do we have equal representation at the negotiation table? Let's be honest. ‘I doubt anyone in government actually cares.’

Questionable mining agreements signed by previous and current governments allow mining companies to evade paying substantial taxes.

Four out of five mines in Sierra Leone—Koidu Holdings, African Minerals, Sierra Mineral Holdings 1, and Sierra Rutile—are owned through intermediaries based in tax havens like Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands.

Despite rising mineral prices, mining companies in Sierra Leone rarely report profits, resulting in low corporate income tax revenues.

A critical report titled "Not Sharing the Loot" was published in 2011 by the Danish development organization DanWatch in collaboration with Sierra Leone’s civil society group, the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD). This investigation focused on the social responsibility, tax payments, and corporate structures within Sierra Leone's mining industry. Since the report's release, there have been few, if any, changes in the government's operational methods.

“Iron ore extracted from the Tonkolili District, Gbaray Junction, and Lunsar by the CTC Chinese Group and Marampa Mines Company Ltd.”

— Source: In Video

‘Beyond the Gravy’

A cargo train consisting of 90 fully loaded wagons carrying iron ore extracted from the Tonkolili District, Gbaray Junction, and Lunsar by the CTC Chinese Group and Marampa Mines Company Ltd.

This situation cannot be considered development; instead, it represents a coordinated plunder by a select few individuals who are enriching themselves while 8 million citizens suffer in extreme poverty.

To ensure that the government receives a fair share of the value derived from underground resources, it is essential to implement effective fiscal policies and establish the capacity to monitor the mining sector. This includes the verification of production, exports, purchases, and financial transactions of large multinational corporations.

Dysfunction prevails. Those in power prioritize personal vendettas and flattery over effective governance.

We steer clear of conversations about governance due to the inherent risks involved. It is also because many of us benefit from the existing corrupt, directionless order.

Ask yourself! Sierra Leone. What about the ordinary citizens who are suffering? Consider the workers who toil all month for barely enough pay to get by, the families struggling to make ends meet, the market women facing daily challenges, and the underpaid teachers and nurses.

Think of the millions of unemployed youths who are endlessly searching for jobs and continue to lose hope. What about the families losing their mothers and babies in hospitals due to a lack of basic amenities like electricity and clean water? The shortage of medical equipment and medicine— is this the utopia you envisioned 64 years on?

It’s time to demand transparency and accountability in Sierra Leone. A renaissance is needed. Don’t be a pawn in a political theater driven by greed, corruption, power, and control.

Theo Edwards for YAME Digital

“Justice-Based Leadership: Power will not protect on the Day of Judgment.”

— Source

“When Power Ends, Legacy Speaks!”

— Source: The Moral of the Story | @SolutionCenter | June 16, 2025

Sierra Leone is not a learning ground for politicians, not because there are no lessons to be learned, but because too many refuse to learn.

Generation after generation, our leaders walk the same well-worn path: rise to power, gather followers, accumulate wealth, enjoy praise, and then fall into silence, isolation, or disgrace.

Let us call names, not out of malice, but out of truth:

Siaka Stevens: Once feared and revered, left behind children whose names have faded from national relevance, no political dynasty, no lasting legacy.

Joseph Saidu Momoh: Removed by a coup, left no structure, no enduring contribution—only memories of misrule.

The NPRC boys: Young and ambitious, took the nation by storm. Today, many live ordinary lives, forgotten, wandering, their moment long gone.

Pa Ahmad Tejan Kabbah: Hailed for peace and democratic transition, died in silence, abandoned in a urine-soaked room, with no security, no honour guard, no national gratitude. His children died one by one, not from curses, but from self-inflicted nothingness. His family name was erased quietly.

Ernest Bai Koroma: Not long ago, he was crowned “West Africa’s best” and lauded for his connections, wealth, and grip on power. Now, he cannot even freely enter his own country. His wife, brothers, and children were left adrift. His house sits, untouched. His voice silenced. His access to loved ones and loyalists cut off.

So, what is the moral of the story?

• Power is temporary

• Wealth is deceptive

• Praise is shallow

• And history is brutal

In Sierra Leone, 95% of former politicians go financially or morally bankrupt within three years of leaving office. The same people they fed, clothed, and sponsored during their reign disappear when the title is gone. What remains? Only legacy for good or for shame.

To today’s politicians and our loved SLPP brothers and sisters, especially those who think “this time will be different.”

Let history humble you: Your convoy will vanish. Your phone will stop ringing. Your praise singers will find a new master. And the people you once ignored will remember how you made them feel.

You may hold the flag now, but you will not hold it forever. And when it falls from your hands, you will either be remembered with gratitude or with contempt.

So serve well. Serve with integrity. Build people, not just portfolios. Leave systems, not scars.

Because when power ends and it always does, legacy speaks. And if your own truth doesn’t expose you, time will.

If time delays, death will write the final verdict as I have done here for Late Pa Kabba and others who have gone.

And if even death stays long enough, you will live to watch your name rot in the mouth of those who once praised you.

A word to the wise is enough, maybe not. ‘We dae watch from near and far.’

---

'all man don turn mumu'

“Innocent Kuti - Mumu”

“Sierra Leone: KUSH victims’ death en de homeless na salone den dae put de body na resbag en lef na treet lek die-dog. Sad state! ”

— Courtesy

Greed: The Culture Among African Politicians and Their Close Associates

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

In the UK, the general rule states that owning a house anywhere in the world usually disqualifies you from being eligible for or retaining council housing, also referred to as social housing. This type of housing is designed to provide affordable accommodations for individuals in need who cannot afford private housing. Additionally, you must have a low income or limited savings to qualify.

President Bio and his wife, Fatima, met in London 13 years ago

Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Jabbie-Bio, is currently renting a council flat in South London. According to a report from The Sunday Times of London published on May 10, 2025, she has become embroiled in a housing scandal in Southwark. This controversy comes at a time when 336,000 households are on the waiting list for accommodation in the capital. While living in a mansion in Freetown, Fatima Jabbie-Bio still retains the tenancy of her previous home in Southwark.

The video! London, GB News Network reported the news exclusively during its Morning Show Live broadcast.

This situation seems to violate council housing regulations, which stipulate that such a property must be the tenant's sole or principal residence.

Records show that Jabbe-Bio has registered to vote multiple times at a two-bedroom council flat in Southwark since 2009. Southwark Council has confirmed that the flat has had the same tenant since 2007, indicating that Jabbe-Bio is still renting the property despite owning a significant property portfolio in Africa.

Southwark Council told OCCRP that the resident currently residing at the address has been the tenant of the property since December 2007 to the current date, but declined to name that person for personal data protection reasons.

---

Most Read from YAME Digital: Sierra Leone Greed and Corruption:

Sierra Leone: A Reflection at 64

In the words of President Bio: "Because of Democratic Principles..."

“In his remarks to a group of Sierra Leoneans, President Bio stated, “Because of democratic principles, the time wae ar get, ar nor go able change this country.”

From Council Flat to Chaos: How a Londoner Became President of Sierra Leone, and Why It Was Doomed from the Start

Small Country, Massive Suffering — How did it all fall apart?

Tin tranga! That is the new national anthem as hardship grips the motherland. The Rising Cost of Living, Especially Food and Energy

---

The Lunch Club provided a political perspective on the event surrounding the First Lady.

The First Lady, Fatima Jabbe-Bio, and her husband left London in 2018 when Julius Maada Bio became the president of Sierra Leone. Since then, the couple has lived in the presidential lodge in Freetown.

Summary Issue and Details

• Flat Location: Southwark, south London
• Tenancy Since: 2007
• Current Residence: Presidential Lodge, Freetown, Sierra Leone
• Other Properties: Multiple luxury properties in Africa (Gambia, etc.)
• Council Flat Regulation: Must be the tenant’s primary residence
• Alleged Breach: Retained tenancy while living abroad and owning other properties
• Council Response: Conducts checks, does not comment on individuals
• Public Reaction: Criticism due to housing shortages and perceived misuse of social housing

The First Lady’s continued tenancy of a London council flat, despite her high-profile status and wealth, is seen as potentially violating council housing rules and has fueled broader concerns about greed and misuse of public resources among political elites.

The Investigation

After Sierra Leone's President Took Office, His Wife and Her Family Went Real Estate Shopping.

Since Julius Maada Bio became Sierra Leone’s president in April 2018, his wife, Fatima Bio, and her close relatives have scooped up luxury properties in Gambia.

The Investigation

• Since becoming Sierra Leone’s first lady: Fatima Bio has bought four properties in Gambia, while a $500,000 villa was purchased in her mother’s name
• Fatima Bio’s half-brothers have also purchased Gambian properties: Bringing the relatives’ spending to a total of at least $2.1 million on at least ten real estate transactions carried out between 2020 and 2024
• Documents show a top Sierra Leone government contractor signed key paperwork for three of the properties: Including the villa owned by the first lady’s mother
• The first family did not respond to questions: About who paid for the real estate or the source of the funds
• Tax records, employment history, asset ownership records, and other publicly available information: Suggest that Fatima Bio, her mother, and her half-brothers had modest means prior to her becoming first lady

She and three of her relatives seem to have gone on a shopping spree

Documents and sale records obtained by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, OCCRP, reveal that between May 2022 and February 2024, Fatima Bio acquired two villas, an apartment building, and a flat in Gambia. Additionally, her mother is listed as the owner of a luxury villa purchased for half a million dollars during the same period.

Gambian Properties Purchased by Fatima Bio and Her Relatives Between 2020 and 2024

Beverly Hills of The Gambia - A villa registered in the name of Fatima Bio’s mother in the exclusive Gambian neighborhood of Brufut Heights

The building layered into multiple terraces, with an L-shaped pool, additional guesthouse, and spacious garden

The Gambian tax records indicate that Tidankay Darboe, Fatima Bio's mother, has not paid any taxes except for the stamp duty on her villa, which was covered by King, a Sierra Leone government contractor.

The unexplained accumulation of foreign property by the First Lady and her family

The source of funds for these purchases is unclear. Public records and tax documents do not show evidence of wealth or legitimate income streams sufficient to explain the acquisitions.

The lack of transparency and accountability highlighted by these property acquisitions points to broader institutional weaknesses in Sierra Leone, particularly in financial oversight, asset declaration, and public procurement.

While President Bio’s economic and anti-corruption policies aim to restore public trust and drive economic development, the First Lady’s actions have sparked public skepticism regarding the government’s commitment to these principles.

The First Lady's property portfolio, acquired under opaque circumstances and involving individuals with government contracts, raises serious questions about governance and the misuse of public resources in Sierra Leone.

YAME Digital

Footnote: There is no evidence from the available report that the housing scandal in London is a case of blackmail or extortion.  Some discussions in the media and among commentators mention the word ‘blackmail,’ but this is largely in the context of people accusing each other of trying to silence or extort, not as a substantiated fact about the scandal itself. The allegations remain focused on possible misuse of social housing and property ownership. 

Please refresh the article for more information as it becomes available.

---

“The ongoing debate on X.”

— Source

Her Excellency @FirstLadyBio might want to read my investigation first – her apparent doubts would be answered.

Besides, @OCCRP shared all the findings with her on April 16. She had weeks to respond but chose silence. pic.twitter.com/2iSZYgM6HR

— Josef Skrdlik (@JosefSkrdlik) May 12, 2025

“Journalist commentary”

— Source: @thomasd05987132

According to @OCCRP, Sierra Leone First Lady @FirstLadyBio was given the opportunity to respond to her alleged property acquisition and unexplained wealth but she chose not to.

The brilliant piece of investigative work was sent to her before publication on 16 of April but as… pic.twitter.com/jiFlbe3Vl4

— thomasdixon (@thomasd05987132) May 13, 2025

Investigative journalist Josef Skrdlik offers an exclusive look behind the scenes.

Journalist @JosefSkrdlik exposed the luxury property portfolio of Sierra Leone’s First Lady Fatima Bio — but despite the anger it triggered, Bio has said she owes “no explanation” about the real estate she and her family own.

Now, Josef takes you behind the scenes of the story. pic.twitter.com/QWnX3vysGo

— Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (@OCCRP) May 27, 2025

Developing Situation at Kissi Teng as Heavily Armed Guinean Soldiers Occupy Border Point

BBC correspondent Umaru Fofana in Freetown provided insight into the history and current border incursion.

Tensions in the eastern Sierra Leonean chiefdom of Kissi Teng have escalated as heavily armed Guinean forces have taken control of multiple border crossing points, including the long-disputed Yenga area. This aggressive maneuver raises serious concerns for the region's stability and security.

The move by the Guinean soldiers has restricted civilian movement and triggered widespread security concerns as residents were reportedly caught off guard by the sudden military presence, and the closure of several key border crossings — the Sierra Leone Immigration Base in Pengu Bengu, Sokoma, Kpongoma, Payluan, Kpemalu, and Kpengbakordu.

What happened to the Guinea, Sierra Leone Border over the years, and how it manifested in the 2023 takeover of Yenga Town by Guinean Soldiers as Sierra Leone soldiers watched helplessly.

Protecting our land borders – a priority for parliament.

---

READ: Footnote by Victor Ako Mengot, Consultant on ECOWAS Trade Facilitation & Joint Border Post Security & Management.

---

Local officials and residents alike expressed shock and confusion over the sudden turn of events and called on the government to act swiftly to protect the lives and rights of affected Sierra Leonean citizens. 

The lack of a solid border and border security apparatus allows for cross-border incursion and illicit actions, such as the drug and arms trade, and human trafficking.

The Yenga diplomacy during the Maada Bio presidency, and earlier on.

What came of this meeting?

“UPDATE: May 5, 2025: Sylvia Blyden’s comments on the situation in Yenga and the response from the Sierra Leone government. Listen!”

— Social and political implications: The SLPP Government propaganda and lies.

It can be recalled that there has been controversy over Yenga in recent times due to the Guinean occupation of that Sierra Leone territory.

Meanwhile, Dr. Blyden's broadcast gave a detailed historical perspective about Yenga from 1994 to date. Below is the correct factual timeline of events concerning the Guinean occupation of Yenga according to Dr. Blyden:

• 1994-2012: Yenga was under Guinean military occupation.

• 2012-2020: Yenga was totally free of Guinean occupation, especially after 2013 when the last Guinean war tank was finally removed.

• 2020-Date: Yenga is back under Guinean military occupation.

Towards the end of April 2025, there was a recent upsurge in instabilities within Yenga that led to a host of vulnerable residents fleeing from Yenga due to aggression from the foreign Guinean troops.

©️Awareness Times Newspaper (06/05/25)

WARNING to the Ministry of Information & Civic Education (MoICE), Chernoh Alpha Bah, to immediately retract their claim that citizens who fled can safely go back to Yenga because, according to the LIARS of this LYING GOVERNMENT, the

_'...Sierra Leone Army is inside Yenga now and will be able to secure them from Guinean soldiers.'_

That's a shameless LIE from a Government that lacks self-respect, as displayed by their official Spokespersons.

Guinea Military Barracks in YENGA | COURTESY: Awareness Times: May 24, 2024 archive

Sierra Leone's 64th Anniversary: 'Failing With Confidence'

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

April 27, 2025, will mark the 64th anniversary of Sierra Leone's independence from British colonial rule on April 27, 1961.

Deliberate wrongs inflicted on the people of Sierra Leone by our two lead political parties, the SLPP and the APC, have brought our people into deep suffering and decline, and our once bright country has been dragged down into abject backwardness and darkness.

The chaotic situation seems endless, filled with one disaster after another.

“Dr. Prince Hyce Bull’s Reflection on Sierra Leone at 64.”

— Source: In Video

Both parties have a long and clear history of plunging Sierra Leone into severe poverty, ongoing hardships, widespread unemployment, and significant environmental degradation. They have consistently misled their unsuspecting supporters and voters with kindergarten tricks and false promises. And routinely treat voters as fools.

---

Most Read from YAME Digital: 

Our country continues to struggle to find a path to prosperity.

---

Corruption and Division!

Neither party is fit to govern post-cocaine, post-tribal Sierra Leone. The leaders of both parties have shown pettiness and foolish tribalism merely for selfish reasons.

Sierra Leone needs a clean start, a fresh beginning. Otherwise, the worst abuses during the past 63+ years would most certainly reappear in more vicious forms!

---

Listen to what President Julius Maada Bio has to say on the country's 64th anniversary.

The speech that lacks substance.

---

The Question Is: What Has Been the Cost?

Dr. Samura Kamara, 2023 Presidential Candidate, All People's Congress (APC) Party, 64th Independence Anniversary Address.

“Fellow Sierra Leoneans and Friends of our beloved Country.”

— Source: Dr. Samura Kamara | Sunday, 27 April 2025

Today, as we mark 64 years since we first raised our flag in freedom, we must ask ourselves, not just how far we have come, but why we have not come further.

Too many of the dreams of 1961 have been either delayed or denied. The hopes of our forefathers, to build a peaceful, united, prosperous, and dignified nation, have been choked, not by fate, but largely by the failures and poison of our subsequent partisan politics and leadership. For decades, the destiny of Sierra Leone has been hijacked by self-interest, political tribalism and regionalism, and short-sighted governance. We have accommodated politicians and leaders prioritizing power over people, party over country, and personal ambition over national purpose.

The question is: what has been the cost?

Our hearts are heavy and shaken. Families, homes, tribes, communities, and institutions have been torn apart in the interest of self and party politics. Instead of offering the quality of objectivity, reason, and tolerance, the peculiarity of contemporary party politics in Sierra Leone is characterized by a frenzy of greed, selfishness, opportunism, division, segregation, envy, and hate.

The promise of independence, namely, peace, democracy, dignity, and prosperity, has been dimmed. Our nation has faltered many times and over, witnessing a significant decline in governance, economic progress, and social justice. Economic stagnation, sticky abject poverty, and eroded public trust have become our reality. The aspirations of our youth, the architects of our future, have been rudely punctuated by an uncontrollable drug menace, while the dreams of our mothers and fathers, and the future of our under-five children, hang in the balance.

We feel it in the communities: divided by political colors, instead of converging in a national character, in national colours, and our national pledge.

We suffer it in our institutions: weakened by executive capture, favoritism, corruption, and cycles of revenge, instead of reform for a path to excellence and national responsibility.

We endure it in the daily struggles of ordinary Sierra Leoneans, who know that their hardship is not inevitable - it is man-made.

And, despite these painful truths, many of our political leaders remain defiant and in constant denial, while the rest of the country continues to suffer and slip farther and farther backward.

But you, our people, resilient as ever, have endured the hardship with patience. But patience has a limit, and must never be mistaken for acceptance. This is why on June 24, 2023, you, the people, spoke unequivocally and chose a new path.

The June 24, 2023, elections were a clarion call, demanding democratic change through the ballot box. The will of the people, recognized by the international community, was clear. It was a loud and determined, decisive victory for a new democratic direction. Sinfully, this was blatantly denied by the Chief Electoral Commissioner and the ECSL. Consequently, the continued refusal by the Bio regime to accept reality and to honor this mandate of the people has plunged our nation into uncertainty. It has continued to undermine any attempt by the people to advance forward and make their lives and livelihoods better.

But I believe in Sierra Leone. I believe in the strength of its people, in their resilience, and in their unyielding desire for a better tomorrow. And I believe that the future can be different if we choose it to be.

Democracy is not a privilege. It is a right. Its principles and practices are sacred, and these provide a solid rock on which to build a shared future. Therefore, the legitimacy of political leadership flows from the consent of the governed, and no individual is above the sovereign WILL of the people. Let us therefore avoid untold strife and write a new chapter of democratic practices and statesmanship, for generations to emulate.

In this context, let me now speak directly to those courageous men and women across our nation, young and old, who continue to believe in electoral and democratic justice. To all who have stood firm, spoken truth, and carried hope in your hearts, I want you to know this. Your voices have not been in vain. Though the wheels of justice may appear to be turning slowly, they are still turning. Though progress may feel delayed, it cannot be denied. I appeal to you all to continue to remain patient, peaceful, and steadfast. Justice has a timetable of its own, but it always arrives. And when it does arrive, it will vindicate those who chose the path of truth over deliberate denial and silence; integrity and rectitude over dishonesty and convenience.

As we reset Sierra Leone, we must now rise above the politics that have divided us and distracted us. We must reject the culture of "us versus them”, of “I and I alone and no one else”. Instead, we must embrace the spirit of "all of us, and for all of Sierra Leone", of “my Sierra Leone, my responsibility.” The time has come to put country first and above self, to put national progress above narrow political sentiments, truth and reality above personal convenience. It is also time to eradicate the seeming practice of privatizing political parties as the exclusive property of a certain political order, or of powerful individuals, or of a group of select persons. Democratically, a political party is the property of all its members and those who look up to it as an instrument for positive change. Thus, any sustainable unity within a political party or between political parties must be an embodiment of all members and the country as a whole. A true political leader must have the love, carrying capacity, and will to serve all shapes of people.

Let us choose unity over division, discipline over disorder, and a shared national purpose over narrow agendas. Let us build a Sierra Leone where the next independence anniversary is not marked by speeches of regret, but by celebrations of renewal and positive developments.

Our best years are not behind us, they are within reach. But this is only if we are brave enough to change, bold enough to lead differently, and committed enough to serve, and not to rule, suppress, intimidate or control with impunity.

Over the past 64 years of independence, we have been tested by difficult external circumstances, in particular, a devastating 11-year civil war, very lethal Ebola and Covid 19 virus outbreaks, and major setbacks in our economic trajectory, including a sharp deterioration in mining and agricultural performances. We emerged resilient, thanks to the sacrifices of countless heroes and the solidarity of the international community.

During the first 15 years of our post-conflict reconstruction, 2002 to 2017, we showed the world what Sierra Leoneans can achieve. We established new public institutions and implemented bold public financial management and structural reforms, to strengthen accountability and transparency in public service delivery; we made positive strides in transportation, energy, health and education infrastructures; we transformed our economy into one of the fastest-growing economies; we established and consolidated national peace; we held democratic elections and allowed peaceful transfer of power between ruling governments and opposition parties. In these efforts, Sierra Leone had started laying out strong building blocks in state building; we fought hard for stability and democracy, and hence, a beacon of hope and progress.

Sadly, we have suffered an unanticipated derailment of peace and progress across all works of life in the last 6-7 years. But by the Grace of God and the will of everybody, this awkward trend is not irreversible.

So, on this 64th Independence Anniversary, let it not just be a day of reflection, but a turning point. Let it be the beginning of a new and lasting covenant between us, and let us make uninterrupted progress. A new covenant, rooted in integrity, service, and shared sacrifice. It is a new commitment to serving each other’s interests, protecting each other’s rights, and working for the common good. Let us engage our collective strengths to conquer our difficulties and salute a New Dawn for Sierra Leone.

Let us remember that our strength lies in peace, unity, and mutual respect. Together, we can transform our current trials into triumphs. The dawn of a new Sierra Leone is within reach - a nation where every voice matters, every dream is valid, and every citizen thrives. A nation where political propaganda and untenable promises can thrive no longer. A nation where spoken words can be challenged if found to be deceitful.

To our International Partners, we thank you for standing with Sierra Leone in her darkest hours. We pray and invite you to steadfastly continue to walk with us as we reclaim our destiny.

Finally, 'it is still not over until its over! and what God cannot do, does not exist!' Happy Independence Anniversary to all. May God bless you, and bless our beloved Sierra Leone.

---

The Brass Band of Methodist Boys High School performed at their 151st Thanksgiving Anniversary, which coincided with the nation's 64th Independence Anniversary.

This year's Independent holiday was somewhat bittersweet, but regardless of the circumstances, we celebrate 'we lek we Salone.'

A special thanks to the Methodist Boys High School Brass Band for their beautiful and classic performance at the 151st Thanksgiving celebration, which brought smiles to the faces of our cherished communities.

---

‘Sierra Leone at 64’ ~ by Anonymous!

The national anthem that represents the current conditions of Mama Salone. Must Read!

High we exalt thee, realm of the free, But today, tears fall where pride should be.

Great is the love we have for thee, Yet sorrow covers our land and sea.

Our leaders roam from shore to shore, while our people suffer more and more.

They chase titles, they chase fame, while hunger and fire shame our name.

NRA closed EDSA’s gates in shame, because taxes unpaid became a game.

A whole institution brought to its knees, while the common man begs on wounded streets.

Firmly united, ever we stand, yet betrayal poisons our precious land.

Parliament signs away unborn lives, while the voice of the people barely survives.

Fires rage, and homes turn to dust, every minute, another cruel gust.

Ashes rise where dreams once lay, and all we can do is weep and pray.

We raise up our hearts and our voices on high, but who listens to a broken cry?

The hills and valleys re-echo our pain, a land begging for healing again.

Blessing and peace be ever thine own, but chaos and grief are all we've known.

O Lord, have mercy on Sierra Leone, the land that we love, the land we call home.

Theo Edwards for YAME Digital

Freetown City Council Set To Roll Out Sensitization Campaign Ahead of Implementation Of New FCC Sanitation ByLaws 2024

The new Freetown City Council Solid and Liquid Waste Collection ByeLaws 2024 became effective on 2nd April 2025!

Statutory Instrument: SL Gazette Vol. CLXV, No: 76 dated 19th September 2024

Over the course of the next few weeks, Freetown City Council is rolling out an intensive citywide sensitisation campaign, “Operation Dorti Mus Go,” to ensure that all our residents understand the new legislation. Implementation and enforcement of the new byelaws will commence immediately after the roll-out of the campaign sensitization. Sensitisation campaign dates to be shared soon!

Thanks to the FCC councillors and staff who worked hard to develop the new byelaws, thanks to the Minister of Local Government for tabling the byelaws in Parliament, and thanks to the Members of Parliament for supporting this new legislation.

Freetonians, let’s all fully comply with the new byelaws so that we have a clean Freetown!

©️Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE | 17/4/2025

Sierra Leone State House in Flames

State House | April 12, 2025

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE: State House Inferno. On April 12, 2025, the last bastion of Sierra Leone civilization was up in smoke.

Situated in the heart of Freetown on State Avenue in Tower Hill, the State House serves as the official residence of the president of Sierra Leone. It also houses the offices of the president, senior presidential staff, and associates.

The fire broke out at approximately 4:00 p.m. today on the 4th floor of the West Wing, engulfing the offices of Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella and Press Secretary Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, according to initial reports.

The National Fire Force and law enforcement agencies were notified. Four hours later, the fire was brought under control and an investigation is currently in progress. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Please refresh the page later for more updates.

The Ministry of Information and Civic Education issued a statement and urging the public to remain calm.

“The Ministry of Information and Civic Education.”

— Public Notice

Ironically, Julius Maada Bio, the President of the Republic, was abroad attending a three-day forum from April 11 to April 14. This forum, the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025), was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye.

See Something, Say Something!

“The rampant vandalism of government infrastructure in Sierra Leone has led to the ‘Adopt a Community’ initiative: Neighborhood Crime Watch.”

— Source: Courtesy, Mr. Foday Alimamy Narby | Columbus, OH

Please Share

---

As the fires sweep through Sierra Leone with increasing intensity, it is alarming to see the absence of any effective safety measures and public awareness to protect communities and prevent further devastation.

A preliminary investigation has revealed that the reckless behavior of certain individuals led to the death of one person and property damage at the Shalimar Building Fire in Waterloo, located on the outskirts of Freetown. This incident occurred around 1:00 AM on the night of Sunday|Monday, April 13-14.

The Video and Interview, the morning after:

Then, on the morning of Tuesday, April 15, 2025, a fire occurred at the complex of the 34 Military Hospital Medical Store — The Video.

In the early hours of Tuesday, April 15, 2023, a fire gutted the medical facility of the government '34 Military Hospital,' which is currently undergoing an upgrade. The facility houses medical supplies.

Information reaching this outlet is said to be under investigation.

This incident underscores the alarming rise in fire outbreaks throughout Sierra Leone, highlighting critical concerns about public safety, infrastructure resilience, and emergency preparedness.

“Information and Civic Education Minister Chernor Bar provided an update on the State House fire that occurred on Saturday, April 12, 2025.”

— Source: His Words | April 14, 2025

Theo Edwards for YAME Digital

Victor Chukuma Johnson Jr. of Lion Food, Snacks and Beverages Ltd

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Victor Chukuma Johnson Jr. has seen a lot and has been through a lot. Today, the small business owner’s ambitions extend beyond entrepreneurship – he is determined to establish Lion Foods as a national brand.

On April 8, 2025, Lion Food, Snacks and Beverages Ltd., based in Sierra Leone, was proudly featured in the International Trade Centre's prestigious International Trade Forum. Titled "Connect and You Will Succeed," the feature highlights Lion Food's inspiring journey of growth, innovation, and its impact on the global stage.

A truly inspiring story!

Trade Forum Features

Connect, and you will succeed: The Story of Lion Food from Sierra Leone

8 April 2025 | Evelyn Seltier, International Trade Centre

Victor Chukuma Johnson Jr has seen a lot and has been through a lot. When the 11-year-long civil war in Sierra Leone ended in 2002, the self-made entrepreneur saw economic opportunities where many saw hardship. His vision for a sustainable, social business exporting locally sourced, processed, and packaged food, turned into Lion Food, Snacks and Beverages Ltd. 

Today, the small business owner’s ambitions extend beyond entrepreneurship – he is determined to establish Lion Foods as a national brand.

Victor Chukuma Johnson Jr, the owner and CEO of Lion Food, Snacks and Beverages, in his production facility in Waterloo, Sierra Leone | © Ibrahim Miles Kamara / ITC / Fairpicture

A fourth-generation native of Waterloo, the capital of Sierra Leone’s Western Area Rural District near Freetown, Victor grew up in a region profoundly affected by the war. Waterloo became a densely populated area, home to a large community of young ex-combatants, with a military training camp located less than a mile from his future factory.

Given the volatile post-war environment, it is no surprise that Victor initially pursued a career in telecommunications. He worked on communications systems for the UK Commonwealth, the UN peacekeeping mission, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the National Civil Registration Authority, as well as private firms and various NGOs.

However, despite his expertise as a radio frequency and computer systems specialist—with studies leading him to Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Israel, and the United Kingdom—Victor ultimately chose a different path. His passion for agriculture led him to question the overwhelming reliance on imported food that he observed in Sierra Leone.

“I thought to myself: all our food is imported. Why? We grow our own food, so we should be buying our own food.”

Uprooting cassava: By prioritizing local sourcing and quality, the founder of Lion Foods is not only reducing the country’s dependency on imports but also paving the way for a stronger, self-sufficient food industry | © Ibrahim Miles Kamara / ITC / Fairpicture

Reducing the need for imported brands: Lion Food is born

Peeling cassava by hand, the basis of "garri" | © Ibrahim Miles Kamara / ITC / Fairpicture

Determined to add value to Sierra Leonean agricultural products, Victor set out to create locally processed and packaged foods that could compete with imported brands.

“You need to do your research well. For instance, how does cashew sell? You need the same standard packaging. This is why first I invested in branding across my entire product line. Only then are people willing to try. I can compete with anyone coming from outside Sierra Leone.”

Success, however, required more than just branding. Victor understood that sustainable growth depended on investing in people. Through Lion Agric Product, he spent 11 years working with farmers, strengthening supply chains, and refining his products before officially launching Lion Food, Snacks and Beverages Ltd. in 2019. By prioritizing local sourcing and quality, the founder of Lion Food is not only reducing the country’s dependency on imports but also paving the way for a stronger, self-sufficient food industry.

Washing cassava before the grinding process | © Ibrahim Miles Kamara / ITC / Fairpicture

“We built our business on the philosophy that our success is measured by the number of people who benefit from it. We deeply value our customers, suppliers, and employees. To support local farmers, we partnered with Ecobank Microfinance Sierra Leone for financing. Previously, nearly 50% of our farmers’ produce was lost due to post-harvest spoilage, making it difficult to meet the demand for processing their entire harvest on time. This partnership not only helped address those losses but also enabled us to build our packing and processing factory in Waterloo. In addition, Apex Bank Sierra Leone provided funds for our farmers.”

The location of the factory carries historical significance. During the war, the Revolutionary United Front Rebels burned their weapons and ammunition there, which set every home in the area ablaze.

“After the war, I chose to turn a place once scarred by destruction into a symbol of resilience, hope, and progress. It stands as a testament to our ability to rise from adversity and build a brighter future for Sierra Leone.”

Lion Food is the first company in Sierra Leone to use biogas and liquified petroleum gas for food processing (here for parching garri) | © Ibrahim Miles Kamara / ITC / Fairpicture

The next step: Connecting buyers with suppliers in West Africa

In 2022, Lion Food took a significant step toward expanding its business by developing supply and value chains across West Africa. Through the power of partnerships, the company actively looked for opportunities to strengthen its market presence.

Lion Food booth at West Africa Connect

As part of this plan, Lion Food joined the International Trade Centre (ITC) and participated in trainings on value addition, product branding and marketing, packaging and market entry requirements, and attended trade fairs. This is how Victor was able to join West Africa Connect, a regional trade fair and business-to-business event that turned out to be a game changer for the small business.

“Because of this exposure I am collaborating in the cassava value chain with Meannan Foods, Oxy Industries Ltd, Edmass Foods Ltd, and Christaa Agric Ventures in Ghana, as well as Dasun Integrated Farms Limited, Goalpath Nigeria Limited, and Kitovu Technology Company in Nigeria. Additionally, I am working with Give Smile Solutions in Togo and engaging small businesses from Burkina Faso and Benin to secure international deals. Through WestAfrica Connect, I was also able to connect with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The possibilities seem endless.”

Lion Foods has fostered collaborations with like-minded entrepreneurs in areas such as local packaging and machinery. The company is also capitalizing on regional trade agreements, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which allows Sierra Leone to trade products duty-free.

Beyond trade expansion, Lion Food has received additional training on accessing finance and improving product value through traditional techniques. The company is now launching a new packaging line with bilingual descriptions in English and French, broadening its market reach.

In the past two years, Victor has made valuable connections that help his business grow rapidly – and all this by keeping production and sourcing within Africa: for instance, using laboratory facilities, graphic design and logistics service providers in Nigeria and Ghana, importing soy beans from Togo and exchanging cashew recipes with The Gambia, or facilitating transactions through regional banking mechanisms in local currencies.

“ITC has changed the dynamics for us. This is why we are moving forward in our commitment to intra-African trade.”

VIDEO | 26 March 2025

The company launched a new packaging line with bilingual descriptions in English and French, broadening its market reach | © Ibrahim Miles Kamara / ITC / Fairpicture

Turning Lion Food into a beacon of hope for communities and the planet

Lion Food is more than just a business—it is a social enterprise committed to creating lasting impact through a triple bottom line approach that balances social, environmental, and financial success. “Our goal is to harmonize these three elements to ensure a positive, sustainable impact for everyone involved.”

Victor not only creates social impact by hiring a mostly female farming workforce, but his company is also the first one in Sierra Leone to use biogas and liquified petroleum gas for food processing. Waste from palm kernels is a basis for biofuel, fertilizers and biogas. Finally, a few months ago, the company started using solar panels to power their productions and further reduce environmental impact.

“I am building a national brand with strong environmental standards, selling good food for a good price.”

In the next five years, Lion Food is looking to expand beyond Sierra Leone and Africa. To enable this growth, Victor plans to attract investment by buying and selling shares, allowing the company to scale its impact.

“Our vision is simple: when people think of healthy, affordable food, they think of us.”

“I am building a national brand with strong environmental standards, selling good food for a good price” | © Ibrahim Miles Kamara / ITC / Fairpicture

Victor has been participating in the EU-funded West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) interventions implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC).

WACOMP is financed by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund. The programme aims to strengthen the competitiveness of West African countries and enhance their integration into the regional and international trading system. ITC implements the programme in cooperation with UNIDO and under the overall guidance of the ECOWAS Commission. The overall objective of the programme is 'to strengthen the competitiveness of West Africa through an enhanced level of production, transformation and export capacities of the private sector in line with regional and national industrial and small business strategies'.

Share this article