Author: gleanernewspaper

People fleeing the violence in West Darfur, cross the border into Adré, Chad on August 4, 2023 [File: Reuters/Zohra Bensemra] For months now, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), an independent military force, together with allied armed groups, have been besieging the city of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. If the city falls, this would likely kick off yet another wave of killings. This is happening in the total absence of any UN or other international or regional presence mandated to protect the civilian population there. RSF forces and affiliated armed groups have already killed thousands of mostly Massalit people in el-Geneina, West Darfur,…

In a groundbreaking move to streamline insurance premium payments, Afrimoney has officially launched its partnership with the Sierra Leone Insurance Association. The launch event took place at Africell’s Head Office in Freetown, marking a significant step towards enhancing financial transactions in the insurance sector for Sierra Leoneans. This innovative collaboration allows Sierra Leoneans to pay their insurance premiums with unparalleled ease and comfort through Afrimoney, by simply dialling *161*2*11*10#. This initiative is designed to simplify the payment process, ensuring that clients can conduct their business transactions swiftly and efficiently. Raymond Macaulay, President of the Sierra Leone Insurance Association, highlighted the…

Slovenian Ambassador to Türkiye, His Excellency Gorazd Renčelj and Ambassador Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba The Slovenian Ambassador to Türkiye, His Excellency Gorazd Renčelj, paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, at the Chancery Building in Ankara, and has expressed admiration for Sierra Leone President, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, after being elected Member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in the Non-Permanent Category. On 1st January 2024, Slovenia became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the second time in its history, joining Sierra Leone, Algeria, South Korea, and Guyana. Ambassador Gorazd Renčelj said his visit…

On Friday, May 17, 2024, the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Ambassador Colonel (Rtd) Alhaji Fanday Turay, led the distribution of severance payment cheques to former employees of the Sierra Leone Airports Authority (SLAA). The ceremony at the old Freetown Airport Terminal marked the second phase of severance payments to retirees and redundant staff. Minister Turay disclosed that there are approximately 500 redundant staff, with 40 paid in the first tranche and 37 in this second tranche. The total severance payout amounts to $7.5 million.  The Freetown International Airport (FIA), in collaboration with all stakeholders, committed to disbursing $350,000 monthly…

Magdalene Koroma, Founder and Director of Generation Plus The Founder and Director of Generation Plus (GenPlus); Magdalene Koroma, has bemoaned Sierra Leone’s justice system for not making the fight against Sexual and Gender Violence (SGBV) a winnable one. Ms Koroma who was speaking to this press after her return from Sierra Leone to the United States of America, where she is based, described SGBV as a ‘silent killer and destroyer of destiny’. While in the country, Ms. Koroma took some time off to interact with victims and law enforcement agencies in the western area and Southeast to get firsthand experience…

The two-day (16th and 17th May) 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (22CCEM) held at the Marlborough House, London, has been hailed as a resounding success, thanks to the amazing work of participants, including the exceptional contributions of the dynamic duo, who are currently spearheading Sierra Leone’s educational transformation. Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, the country’s Minister of Basic & Senior Secondary Education and Minister of Technical & Higher Education, played pivotal roles in strategic discussions aimed at generating actionable recommendations to enhance education across the 156-strong Commonwealth member nations. The conference, themed “Driving…

The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Planning and Economic Development, Chaired by Hon. Peter Yamba Koroma, on Thursday, 16/05/2024 conducted an oversight tour at the construction site of an Ultra-modern Maternal Hospital in Koidu City, Kono District. The hospital, the Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE) is being constructed by a non-governmental organization, Partners in Health (PiH) together with the Government of Sierra Leone, with a total initial investment of Twenty-Eight Million Dollars. Once completed, the 166-bed facility will be a state-of-the-art complex serving women, and children and a training centre for the next generation of health professionals in Sierra Leone. During…

In a significant development aimed at bolstering agricultural productivity and supporting farmers in Bombali District, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, and the National President of the National Federation of Farmers of Sierra Leone, Madam Yatta Samah, officially handed over assorted rice processing machines to the District Coordinator of the Federation of Farmers, Madam Kadija Bangura, on Friday, 17th May 2024. The handover ceremony marked the transfer of essential agricultural equipment, including Rice Mills with a milling capacity of 4mt/day, Threshers, Weeders, Fertilizer Applicator Machines, Manual Rice Transplanters, Rice Dryers, and other vital…

Dr. Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and President Emmanuel Macron of France recently met in Paris to talk about and discuss ways to improve bilateral relations between their countries. President Bio characterized the meeting, which happened during his trip to France for the Clean Cooking in Africa Summit, as historic and fruitful. President Bio thanked President Macron in a post on X for his gracious hospitality and his dedication to strengthening ties between France and Sierra Leone. The leaders emphasized their common objectives and dedication to collaboration while talking about a wide range of regional and global issues. The…

During the recent Clean Cooking Summit in Paris, President Emmanuel Macron of France hosted international leaders, committed to advancing clean cooking practices in Africa. The summit served as a high-level forum to discuss the region’s pressing need for safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly cooking methods. President Macron thanked the leaders in his speech to the gathering for their dedication to building a better world for everybody. In particular, he commended President Julius Maada Bio for his commitment to making clean cooking a top priority to better the lives of Africans and save the environment. President Macron declared that France…