Going after National Elections Watch is a very bad idea
In an unprecedented and controversial move, Parliament this week decided to set up a special committee to investigate National Elections Watch (NEW), a large coalition of civil society organisations and the country’s leading election observer body. The motion was introduced by two ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) members, Mustapha Sellu and Ambrose Lebby, and […]
Zainab Sheriff and the price of dissent
Sierra Leonean entertainer, model and political activist Zainab Sheriff has been in jail since her first court appearance on 23 February, 2026. She was denied bail again by Magistrate Braima Jah during her third appearance at the Pademba Road Magistrates Court. The matter came up again on 11 March, 2026. This means the activist and […]
Remembrance is not an event.
January 18th is Remembrance Day in Sierra Leone. Close to two and a half decades after the brutal civil war ended, the country has now set aside a day dedicated to remembering the horror and reflecting on its torrid past. While this is a welcome first step and long overdue, we must remind ourselves that […]
This isn’t about Melvin; it’s about power, press freedom and democracy
In January 2025, the Speaker of Parliament, the Honourable Segepoh Thomas, banned journalist Melvin Mansaray from the Parliament precincts. The ban was immediate and indefinite. One year on, Mansaray, a parliamentary reporter and an outspoken critic of public institutions and officials, has not set foot on parliamentary grounds. What really happened? Mansaray was accused of […]
Feed Salone at Two: beyond the numbers
The government’s flagship programme for food security in Sierra Leone, Feed Salone turned two in October, with vibrant celebrations held during this year’s World Food Day event in Kambia. Two years on, it is worth taking stock of the progress made, highlighting the gains so far while also pointing out the gaps that remain. It […]