The cost of living crisis needs no more “govsplaining”
Tin tranga! Tin tranga! That is the new national anthem as hardship grips the nation. The cost of essential commodities keeps soaring, making the cost of living unaffordable for many. From food to fuel and utilities to higher education, everything is going out of the reach of the average Sierra Leonean. Even those with deep […]
The August 2022 protests: in search of justice and closure
It has been a year since the tragic August protests in which dozens of civilians and six police officers were killed. In typical Sierra Leonean fashion, the anniversary of this tragedy passed quietly. No public acknowledgements, no memorials. Those who lost loved ones in the incident had to remember their family members and relatives in […]
Will a state-led electoral systems review offer the desired outcomes?
On Thursday, the new Parliament of Sierra Leone was officially convened in what is known as a State Opening. This comes amidst the ongoing political stalemate and a boycott by the main opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC). At the State Opening, the President, Julius Maada Bio, announced that a committee would be set up […]
Reflections on the June 24 elections: What’s the APC’s endgame?
As the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) continues its boycott of the government, many Sierra Leoneans, including its supporters, are probably wondering how far the party is prepared to go with the protest and what the endgame is. Well, we have been thinking about it too. The wound is fresh; and so is the pain. […]
Reflections on the June 24 elections: what next?
Three decades after the return of multiparty democracy, the state of affairs in the country presents a serious test—a test to fail, pass or come out with the best imperfect scenario. How the political actors and the institutions concerned handle it will determine whether the nation skids down the dangerous path of eroding democratic gains […]