Author: gleanernewspaper

Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Tuesday, 3 February 2026 – Shaikha Alnuwais, the newly elected Secretary-General of UN Tourism and the first woman to hold the post, met with Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit and committed strong institutional support for the development of Sierra Leone’s tourism sector. Alnuwais outlined her five strategic priorities for global tourism during a productive conversation between the two leaders: sustainable and responsible growth; digital transformation and data-driven tourism; economic inclusion and local empowerment; infrastructure, connectivity, and tourism enablers; and governance, transparency, and global trust.During the meeting…

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau  On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba, met with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The discussions, part of a broader diplomatic agenda for the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by the United States, focused on expanding economic ties, promoting shared prosperity, and strengthening cooperation to deter illegal migration.Deputy Secretary Landau described the meeting as “productive and forward-looking,” stating that he valued…

Dr David Moinina Sengeh, the chief minister of Sierra Leone, gave the opening remarks at the Artificial Intelligence Forum at the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai on February 3. He urged world leaders to prioritise values, ethics, and human dignity in the development and application of AI. Speaking before an audience of heads of state, policymakers, technologists and private-sector executives, Dr Sengeh argued that governments must look beyond AI as a mere technological tool and explicitly build in fairness, inclusion and social purpose. The Chief Minister cited specific developments that show how intentional public investment can increase opportunity, framing…

On February 2, 2026, Minister of Energy Cyril Arnold Grant formally introduced and welcomed George Taylor as the new Director General of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), highlighting the importance of strong leadership as the utility prepares for major reform and an impending concession process.Minister Grant, speaking at the handover ceremony, stated that the appointment comes at an important time for EDSA. He praised Taylor’s credentials and professional background, mentioning that the Ministry thoroughly reviewed his record and was impressed with what it discovered. “George is here on the crest of a highly respected background,” the minister said,…

The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), 𝐌𝐫. 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚 has officially presented 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐀 𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 approved to officiate international matches in 2026. The ceremony was held on Wednesday, 4 February, at the SLFA Headquarters in Kingtom, marking another significant step in the Association’s ongoing efforts to strengthen match officiating and enhance Sierra Leone’s presence on the global football stage. The presentation followed FIFA’s publication of its list of international match officials for the year, which features five centre referees and five assistant referees from Sierra Leone. The selected officials include six men…

Sierra Leone took the global stage on Wednesday, when Foreign Affairs Minister Timothy Musa Kabba represented the country at the invitation-only Critical Minerals Ministerial held at the United States State Department in Washington, D.C. The high-level meeting brought together foreign ministers and senior government officials from all over the world to discuss the growing strategic importance of critical minerals for global supply chains, economic security, and technological innovation. The summit, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focused on strengthening trusted international partnerships, addressing supply chain vulnerabilities, and advocating for responsible, sustainable mineral resource development. Delegates discussed policy options,…

Dr Ibrahim Bangura (DIB) Following the announcement of the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) dates, Dr Ibrahim Bangura (DIB) is expected to be elected as the All People’s Congress (APC) flagbearer. The conference is set to take place from August 9 to 12, 2026, at Bai Bureh Hall in Port Loko Township, Port Loko District. With the NDC on the agenda, supporters and delegates are increasingly positioning the party to rally behind a candidate whom they believe can challenge the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and reclaim the presidency in 2028. Across party gatherings and grassroots meetings, delegates have stated…

Hachem Abdelhafid, Algerian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, and Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas Hachem Abdelhafid, the first Resident Algerian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, paid a courtesy call on the Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, was part of a meeting aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries’ legislatures.Ambassador Abdelhafid, who took up his post after Algeria’s resident embassy in Sierra Leone opened in 2025, thanked Speaker Thomas for his time and emphasised the importance of strengthening diplomatic and parliamentary ties. He cited Algeria and Sierra Leone’s shared experiences, noting that both countries…

President Dr Julius Maada Bio has officially launched a new Joint Education Programme at Freetown Polytechnic’s Jui Campus, praising China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) for its active role in transferring technical skills and creating employment opportunities for Sierra Leonean youth. The initiative, a collaboration between CRSG, Zhengzhou Railway Technician College, and Freetown Polytechnic, aims to provide hands-on, industry-relevant training that goes beyond theoretical instruction.President Bio addressed participants and stakeholders at the launch, describing the program as timely and strategic, noting that it is directly aligned with his administration’s Human Capital Development agenda and the broader Big Five priorities. He emphasised…

By Austine Luseni. Babadi Kamara, President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), and Deputy Minister of Mines Umaru Napoleon Koroma paid a courtesy call on Minister of Energy Cyril Arnold Grant to congratulate him on his appointment and discuss potential collaboration between the Ministry of Energy and their respective institutions.Kamara emphasised that modern football operations in Sierra Leone rely heavily on a reliable electricity supply. He noted that the majority of Leone Rock Premier League matches in the country are played under floodlights, making consistent power necessary for fixture staging. Aside from lighting, he emphasised the broader economic role…