Beyond the Obvious

BREAKING: The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has terminated with immediate effect Leone Stars Head Coach, Mohamed Kallon.

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Breaking News: Government Announces Temporary Fuel Subsidy price !

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Update on Fuel Prices

The Government of Sierra Leone met this week with Oil Marketing Companies to review the global fuel situation and what it means for prices and supply in Sierra Leone.

The global oil market is currently unstable due to the situation in the Gulf region and disruptions to major oil shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz. These developments are affecting fuel prices and supply around the world.

Following the meeting, the following decisions have been taken:

The price of petrol will remain at NLe32 per litre.

The price of diesel will increase to NLe35 per litre with immediate effect.

Oil Marketing Companies have also agreed that fuel prices will not increase further for at least the next two weeks, regardless of changes in the global market during that period.

Government understands how important fuel is for transport, electricity generation, and daily life. Authorities are therefore working closely with petroleum companies to manage the situation and ensure that fuel remains available across the country.

Government will continue to monitor the global situation and keep the public informed.

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GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE CONFIRMS DETAINMENT OF SECURITY PERSONNEL BY GUINEAN ARMED FORCES IN FALABA DISTRICT

The Government of Sierra Leone has confirmed that on Monday, 23 February 2026, personnel of the Guinean Armed Forces (GAF) crossed into the border town of Kalieyereh, Sulima Chiefdom, Falaba District, where members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) were deployed.

Through a Press Release issued by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on 24th February 2026.

Stating that, “At the time of the incident, Sierra Leone's security personnel were engaged in making bricks for the construction of a border post and accommodation facility intended to support security operations in the area. The Sierra Leone national flag had been hoisted within the territory recognized as belonging to Sierra Leone.”

Furthermore, the press release stated that, during the encounter, Guinean Armed Forces personnel apprehended several members of the joint security team, including an officer, and transported them across the border into Guinean territory. Their arms and ammunition were also taken.

The government is actively engaging through established diplomatic and security channels to confirm their location and secure their safe and unconditional release.

According to the Information Ministry, the matter has been formally communicated to the appropriate national, regional, and sub-regional authorities. Engagement is ongoing to ensure a peaceful and amicable resolution.

And the Government remains fully seized of the situation. A fact-finding mission has been constituted to visit the area immediately to establish the sequence of events and provide further clarity.

The public will be kept informed as verified information becomes available.

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Just in: President Bio Appoints Edmond Alpha as ECSL Chief Electoral Commissioner

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SIERRA LEONE CLIMBS 5 PLACES UP IN TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL’S CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX (CPI) 2025

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) wishes to inform the general public that Sierra Leone has progressed upwards in the Transparency International’s Global Corruption Country Rankings, moving from 114 in 2024 to 109 out of 182 countries surveyed in the 2025 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (TI-CPI) published on 10th February, 2026.

Sierra Leone also increased its 2024 score of 33 to 34 in 2025, which is above the Sub-Saharan average of 32, and the second highest the country has ever recorded since the CPI rankings began. In seven years consistently, Sierra Leone has moved twenty-one (21) places on the CPI, from 130 in 2017 to 109 in 2025.

The 2025 TI CPI Scorecard, which is the world’s most respected independent assessment of countries’ efforts at addressing the scourge of corruption, reveals that Sierra Leone continues to make significant progress in the global watchdog’s rankings, and now leads Seventy-three (73) countries in the global campaign against corruption, including Thirty (30) African countries, among which are; Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mali, Egypt, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Comoros, Gabon, Angola, Madagascar, Mozambique, Niger and Libya.

This year’s CPI again showed that most African countries experienced stagnation or decline. Nonetheless, Sierra Leone performed better than the Average Score in Sub-Saharan Africa.

It could also be recalled that, Sierra Leone has been outstanding in its Score in the ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator in the Millennium Challenge Corporation Scorecard, with consistent excellent scores above 70% in 8 consecutive years.

In light of the foregoing, the Commission wishes to reassure Sierra Leoneans of its continued and consistent determination to ensure the country continues to perform favourably in National, Sub-regional, Regional, and Global anti-corruption governance indices.

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SLPP CONDEMNS HATE SPEECH AGAINST HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT, SUPPORTS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BY SIERRA LEONE POLICE

The Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) unequivocally condemns the hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric directed against His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Leader of the SLPP during the All People's Congress (APC) meeting held on 31st January 2026 at the Attouga Mini Stadium. At this gathering, the National Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya, Zainab Sheriff, and other APC members and supporters conducted themselves and expressed views with clear intent to vilify. humiliate and incite hatred against the President.

Such hateful rhetoric is not only deeply regrettable but it profoundly undermines the foundations of our democracy. It deepens political polarization, fuels societal tensions, delegitimizes the Presidency and dangerously incites violence. The SLPP firmly rejects any narrative suggesting that these actions fall within the protective ambit of freedom of expression. While freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democratic society, encouraging constructive and at times, sharp criticism, it is not absolute. The conduct of the APC representatives on 31st January transcended acceptable bounds by attacking, insulting, degrading and encouraging violence against the President of Sierra Leone.

Moreover, the Press Release issued by the APC National Secretary General on 4th February 2026, purportedly justifying their conduct, is wholly inadequate, spurious, and without merit. The APC's blatant failure by any member, including the National Secretary General, who lawfully voted in the 24th June 2023 Presidential Election to challenge the election results within the legally mandated 7-day period after declaration conclusively demonstrates that their claims lack merit. These claims cannot be substantiated by any evidence that would survive legal scrutiny at the Supreme Court.

Therefore, the continued actions by certain APC members to fix a date for a fictitious handing-over ceremony or to repeat unsubstantiated claims not sanctioned by the Supreme Court are not only delusional but are deliberate attempts to sow political instability. The SLPP outrightly rejects these actions and denounces the dangerous environment they seek to create.

Despite receiving an overwhelming mandate through the legitimate vote of the people, President Julius Maada Bio has exemplified progressive leadership by initiating a dialogue with the APC. This dialogue dialogue has led to the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee, comprising the Government, APC, and International Partners.

The SLPP acknowledges the vital role of the opposition in a healthy democracy. However, their conduct, actions, and expressions must always operate within the bounds of the law. The opposition must strive to unite rather than divide, foster healthy debate rather than incite hatred, focus on policy ideas rather than spreading misinformation.

In this regard, the SLPP wholeheartedly supports the Sierra Leone Police in continuing their criminal investigation into the conduct and expressions displayed at the 31st January APC meeting. Such investigations are vital to instill political accountability and prevent an environment for hatred and political violence.

We call on all stakeholders, including moral guarantors, to collectively condemn hate speech, incitement to violence and obscenity in our public discourse and body politics. We also commend the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) for their swift actions, as detailed in their Press Release dated 2nd February 2026, regarding the contraventions of provisions of the Political Parties Act 2022 by the APC.

The SLPP remains steadfast in its commitment to peaceful, lawful and democratic governance for the prosperity and unity of Sierra Leone.

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ACC INDICTS EMMANUEL MANNAH, ISATU MARIAMA BAH, AND RICHARD ANTHONY SUCCESS LAHAI GOBA ON VARIOUS CORRUPTION OFFENCES

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed an indictment against Emmanuel Mannah, former Director General of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC), and of No. 8 Mogagba Village, Freetown; Isatu Mariama Bah, Procurement Officer at SLEWRC and of No. 13 Malta Lane, Fourah Bay, Freetown; and Richard Anthony Success Lahai Goba, a Procurement Officer attached to the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) at the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) and of No. 8 Off Hennessy Street, New England Ville, Freetown, on various corruption offences.

Emmanuel Mannah is charged with six (6) counts: one (1) count of Using Position for Advantage, contrary to section 44(1); one (1) count of Failure to Disclose Interest in a Company, contrary to Section 45(1); three (3) counts of Failure to Give Information as the Anti-Corruption Commission may Require, contrary to Section 122(c); and one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit a Corruption Offence, contrary to Section 128(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008, as amended by the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act No. 9 of 2019.

Isatu Mariama Bah and Richard Anthony Success Lahai Goba are jointly charged with four (4) counts, including two (2) counts of Failure to Comply with Applicable Procedures and Guidelines Relating to Procurement, contrary to Section 48(2)(b); and two (2) counts of Conspiracy to Commit a Corruption Offence, contrary to Section 128(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008, as amended in 2019.

The indictment stems from investigations that revealed that, in 2024, two World Bank-sponsored projects implemented by the Project Implementation Unit of EDSA, namely, the Review of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act of 2011 and a Nationwide Sensitization Campaign on the Use of Electricity, were awarded in violation of the applicable procurement laws and regulations.
Investigations further revealed that the contracts, valued at One Million, One Hundred and Eighty-two Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty-eight Leones and Eight Cents (Le1,182,288.08) for the Review of the SLEWRC Act andOne Million, Three Hundred Thousand Leones (Le1,300,000) for the nationwide sensitization campaign, exceeded the threshold for the Request for Quotation (RFQ) procurement method under the Procurement Regulations of 2016.

Further findings established that Emmanuel Mannah, while serving as Director General of SLEWRC, used his position and insider knowledge of available project funding to strategically position FAME Consultancy Services, a company in which he held an interest.

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Ministry of Transport and Aviation has announced transport fares following the recent increase in the pump price of fuel in the country.

See new prices below.
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Ministry of Transport issues new ferry fare Price

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HEALTH ALERT: 267 ULCER OUTBREAK CAUSED BY HAEMOPHILUS DUCREYI, CONFIRMED IN BOMBALI DISTRICT

The National Public Health Agency (NPHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOII), has confirmed an active outbreak of cutaneous ulcers caused by Haemophilus ducreyi in Bombali District, Northern Province. The outbreak, initially detected on November 17, 2025, in Kayassic Community, Safroko Limba Chiefdom, has since spread to 27 communities within the chiefdom, primarily affecting children.
Laboratory testing confirmed Haemophilus duereyi as the causative agent. As of December 24, 2025, there have been 267 suspected cases, with 96 laboratory-confirmed. A total of 150 individuals have recovered, and there have been no reported deaths. Active follow-up is being conducted for 211 contacts.
The majority of affected individuals are children aged 5-15 years, with males representing approximately 56% of the cases. Clinical symptoms include painful, slow-healing skin ulcers primarily on the extremities, often accompanied by regional lymphadenopathy and mild constitutional symptoms. No severe cases requiring hospitalization have been recorded.
Public Health Response: The NPHA has activated comprehensive response protocols, which include: Enhanced surveillance and laboratory testing, Community-based case management and appropriate clinical care at local health facilities for all identified cases, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) activities, including: Training of healthcare workers and communities in proper infection control practices such as hand hygiene, proper wound care, and safe handling of medical waste.
Environmental decontamination measures in affected areas to minimize further transmission, Patient isolation where necessary to limit the spread of infection in healthcare settings.
Public Health Recommendations: The NPIA and MOII urge the public to: Report any suspicious skin lesions to the nearest health facility immediately, Avoid sharing personal items such as towels and clothing to reduce the risk of transmission, Practice improved hygiene by maintaining rigorous personal and environmental cleanliness, particularly frequent handwashing and proper cleaning of wounds and Follow all guidance from healthcare workers and community health volunteers regarding IPC measures to prevent further spread of the infection

The NPHA and MOH reassure the public that the outbreak is under control. Continued vigilance, timely reporting, and community cooperation remain crucial for effective containment. Regular updates will be provided as the situation progresses.

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