Author: gleanernewspaper

Local chiefs and landowners have accused the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Mining Corporation (SLMMDMC) of trying to revoke a locally negotiated lease with the Gento Group of Companies, escalating a contentious dispute over control of the iron ore-rich Kasafoni concession in Tonkolili North. Community leaders claim that if the government does not move swiftly to mediate and protect impacted citizens, the standoff could spark broader social unrest, jeopardise customary land rights, and result in grave human rights violations. To resolve the conflict, Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh informed Parliament more than a month ago that the executive…

State Lodge, the presidential residence in Sierra Leone Jos Leijdekkers is described as a frequent visitor to State Lodge, the lavish presidential residence in Sierra Leone, in a recent article by New Lines Magazine that follows his travels and affiliations. Staff and security guards stationed at the compound took notice when Leijdekkers was spotted there several times, the magazine reported. According to a security officer who spoke to New Lines, a well-dressed man occasionally visited State Lodge and, on his way out, would throw $100 notes to the group of guards as he headed for a fancy SUV. One man identified as…

A young man rolls kush as other users sleep at a hideout in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Associated Press/Alamy In the blistering heat of Freetown, Sierra Leone, young men gather on street corners, their limbs swollen, eyes glazed. They are the victims of kush, a cheap and deadly synthetic drug sweeping the country. But kush is not an isolated tragedy. From the townships of apartheid South Africa to the 21st-century streets of the UK, synthetic drugs have a long history of flourishing in places where society has abandoned its most vulnerable. Kush first appeared in Sierra Leone around 2016, but its spread in…

Ibrahim Sesay, Minister of Trade and Industry  and Rasha Suleiman, Egypt’s ambassador to Freetown Ibrahim Sesay, the Minister of Trade and Industry of Sierra Leone, met with Rasha Suleiman, Egypt’s ambassador to Freetown, to discuss specific measures to improve the two countries’ trade and economic ties. The goal of the negotiations is to translate high-level engagement into useful commercial cooperation, building on the momentum created by President Julius Maada Bio’s March 2025 visit to Egypt. One of the main recommendations that came out of the meeting was to hold a joint Egypt-Sierra Leone Business Forum soon. The forum is intended to…

On behalf of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has toured the BGP offshore seismic vessel anchored at Queen Elizabeth II Quay and been given a thorough briefing on the findings, limitations, and next steps resulting from a significant offshore seismic survey that was carried out this year. Jim Gulland, Director of GeoPartners Limited, gave the update and thanked President Bio and the Petroleum Directorate for starting the project to evaluate the offshore oil and gas potential in Sierra Leone. The GPSL25 3D Seismic Geophysical Survey was the name of the seismic campaign,…

The Sierra Leone Chief Minister led an inter-ministerial delegation on a strategic inspection of the Western Area Peninsula Protected Area to assess a proposed re-demarcation effort. The team included representatives from the Ministries of Environment, Lands, Internal Affairs and Finance, as well as the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC), Office of National Security (ONS), Sierra Leone Police and the Sierra Leone Armed Forces. On site, the Chief Minister underscored the government’s determination to prioritise water security, environmental protection, disaster mitigation and public safety in line with President Bio’s national development…

His Excellency Julius Maada Bio and Excellency Alassane Ouattara His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, the president of Côte d’Ivoire, and His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, the chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and president of Sierra Leone, reaffirmed their shared commitment to reviving the Mano River Union and fortifying the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during a one-day working visit to Côte d’Ivoire. In his role as Chairman, President Bio is currently on a regional tour of ECOWAS member nations, which includes the visit. President Ouattara addressed the media after a private, behind-closed-doors meeting, calling President…

In collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning (MLHCP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Solidaridad West Africa has initiated a coordinated endeavour to enhance the involvement and representation of women in land governance throughout rural communities in Sierra Leone. The initiative’s main goal is to give female members of Village Area Land Committees (VALCs) and Chiefdom Land Committees (CLCs) the information and abilities they need to assert their legal rights under recent land reform laws and participate in local land-related decision-making. In the districts of Bo and Kenema, Solidaridad and FAO…

Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah and Daniel Obst, President and CEO of AFS Intercultural Programs, signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the closing ceremony of Sierra Leone’s exciting side event at the annual AFS Youth Assembly. This MOU solidifies a strategic partnership that has been developing for two years. With a century-old global non-profit presence in more than 60 countries, AFS Intercultural Programs is committed to fostering intercultural learning, global education, and transformative exchange programs to create a more equitable and peaceful world. Through participation in the AFS Youth Assembly itself, as well as programs…

A shocking exposé by New Line Magazine has unveiled the extensive web of corruption surrounding Jos Leijdekkers, a notorious Dutch drug kingpin. The report alleges that Leijdekkers, considered one of Europe’s most wanted criminals, wielded significant influence over top government officials by lavishing them with extravagant gifts, including high-end automobiles. According to sources familiar with Leijdekkers’ illicit operations, he strategically used these luxury vehicles to gain control over key figures in the government and law enforcement. “He had everyone in his pocket, throwing around a lot of money,” a source revealed, emphasising his influence. Reports indicate that Leijdekkers gifted several…