The United States has resumed training aimed at preparing the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) for international peacekeeping. The first in a series of courses started on Wednesday at the U.S. Peacekeeping Logistics Depot in Murray Town, Freetown.
A press release from the US embassy says the month-long course will train the troops for sustainable peacekeeping operations and vehicle maintenance.
The country had been contributing to UN peacekeeping until the Ebola outbreak in 2014.
By Umaru Fofana
A little over a year since his election, Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio has carried out his first major major reshuffle.
Three ministers have been axed while many others have been transferred to other ministries.
Two new deputies have been brought in while others have been moved.
By Umaru Fofana
Sierra Leone’s minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Dr Allie Kabbah says the issue over the disputed border town of Yenga has been resolved.
Yenga was an undisputed part of Kailahun District before the rebel war of the 1990s, but Guinea laid claims to it after its troops who’d been deployed to help deal with the war in Sierra Leone, refused to leave.
By Kemo Cham
Over 200 Air France passengers heading for Paris have been left stranded in the Gambian capital, Banjul after the plane which was scheduled to transit in the Guinean capital Conakry was prevented from landing there.
Representatives of Air France in Freetown, where the flight took off from, said bad weather condition prevented it from landing in Conakry, after several attempts by the pilot lasting for about an hour.
The plane, which had originated from Paris, transited in Freetown where it took on board 165 passengers.
By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
Civil society groups across Sierra Leone country have condemned the "shrinking" political space in the country. The condemnation from more than 20 CSOs came following what they alleged were repeated attacks on activists and human right defenders.
According to a statement from the group, independent voices have come under physical, emotional and other forms of attack since last year’s general election.
By Mohamed T. Massaquoi
Police at the Mano River Division in Jendema have warned of a potential for security breach in the border region owing to ‘low police strength’ on the Sierra Leonean side.
Jendema is the main Sierra Leonean town at the Mano River Border, and the only official crossing points between Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The police say in addition to low personnel strength, lack of vehicles also inhibits their movement, thereby making it difficult, if not impossible, to monitor the largely porous 77 miles (123km) border line.
By Kemo Cham
Sierra Leone should continue to focus on revenue mobilization and prudent management of public finances to reduce its public debt and create the fiscal space to invest in its people and infrastructure, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.
While praising the Bio Administration for impressively weathering a difficult economic condition in the last 12 months, the IMF also urged the authorities to step up structural reform efforts to manage fiscal risks, ensure greater accountability, and diversify the economy.
Supported by: Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
