Sierra Leone : News

News : Sierra Leone : News

Nothing has ever sparked a debate on the state of governance in the country like the song released by one of Sierra Leone's most popular artists, Emerson Bockarie.

Charles Taylor was "not honest" with the United Nations Panel of Experts set up to investigate his alleged dealings with Sierra Leonean rebels, prosecutors told the Special Court for Sierra Leone today during cross-examination of the accused former Liberian president. (AllAfrica)

Lead prosecutor and American lawyer Brenda Hollis Thursday bombarded former president Charles Taylor with series of unstoppable questions regarding alleged atrocities of one of his Generals - General Coocoo Dennis. (AllAfrica)

Following his claims that the US plotted against him for regime change, Mr. Charles Taylor Monday admitted that he maintained links with the US Central Intelligence Agency that he established during the formative stages of his rebellion. (AllAfrica)

Charles Taylor did not support plans to attack Sierra Leone while he was in Libya, the accused former Liberian president told Special Court for Sierra Leone judges today while being cross-examined by the prosecution. (AllAfrica)

KOIDU Tuesday, July 28, 2009 (IRIN) - Up to half of the diamonds mined in Sierra Leone’s informal diamond trade are unregistered, and many of these are smuggled, depriving the government of tax revenue. A diamond smuggler, who requested anonymity, told IRIN about the practice. (irinnews.org)

KOIDU Monday, July 27, 2009 (IRIN) - Sierra Leoneans have welcomed government efforts to redraft mineral legislation, hoping this will lead to a boost in spending on much-needed public services, but analysts say more drastic reform is needed if the people are to prosper from their diamonds. In a two-part series, IRIN first analyses government reform of the foreign-owned industrialized mining sector, and in part two looks at improving informal 'artisanal' mining. (irinnews.org)

OUAGADOUGOU Friday, July 24, 2009 (IRIN) - Health ministers in West Africa have committed to a 10-year multimillion dollar plan to create a regional centre for disease control (CDC) with a high-level reference – advanced – lab to be based in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou. (irinnews.org)

EDITOR'S NOTE - The United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child 20 years ago Friday, yet hundreds of millions of children still suffer from violence, hunger and disease.

Nothing has ever sparked a debate on the state of governance in the country like the song released by one of Sierra Leone's most popular artists, Emerson Bockarie. (AllAfrica)

CAPE TOWN Thursday, July 23, 2009 (IRIN) - The World Health Organization endorsed male circumcision (MC) as an HIV-prevention measure two years ago, but implementation of large-scale male circumcision programmes has been relatively slow. (irinnews.org)

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair drummed up support Wednesday for investment in Sierra Leone, arguing that the west African country has recovered from its brutal civil war and could offer unmatched opportunities in agriculture and tourism.

Prosecutors spent much of today's cross-examination of former Liberian president, Charles Taylor, reading out statements by other West African leaders condemning Mr. Taylor Liberian rebel group for crimes committed against Liberians and members of international humanitarian agencies, including American Catholic nuns and peacekeepers during his country's civil war. (AllAfrica)

DAKAR Wednesday, July 22, 2009 (IRIN) - Partnerships between aid agencies and climate experts are finally paying off by helping NGOs’ disaster prevention and response, but specialists question why it took so long. (irinnews.org)

DAKAR Wednesday, July 15, 2009 (IRIN) - One in four families living in the world's poorest countries borrows money or sells assets in order to afford health care, according to the most recent issue of the US medical journal "Health Affairs". (irinnews.org)

DAKAR Tuesday, July 14, 2009 (IRIN) - Should an outbreak of severe pandemic influenza occur in West Africa, most countries in the region would be armed with plans that look good on paper but are untested and underfunded, according to health experts. (irinnews.org)

JOHANNESBURG Tuesday, July 14, 2009 (IRIN) - The growing number of accidental explosions in military arms and ammunition storage facilities across Africa has highlighted the need for minimum standards in stockpile management in the continent, says a South Africa-based think-tank. (irinnews.org)

MICHAEL TETTEY and his family have become accustomed to the sound of people wailing in grief.

The largest-ever mass vaccination campaign protecting populations from the dangerously infectious yellow fever disease will begin next week across three West African countries, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) announced today. (AllAfrica)

After his cross-examination got off to a stumble last week over the use of "new evidence," Charles Taylor today admitted to prosecutors that he shared information with the spy agency of the same country he has accused of plotting his downfall: the United States. Mr. Taylor also dismissed as "nonsense" prosecution allegations that he has been misusing his phone privileges while in jail to try to influence testimony of his defense witnesses. (AllAfrica)

The cross examination of the former Liberian President, Charles Taylor has been put up until Monday. The trial chamber made the decision Wednesday following a motion by lawyer pressing charges against Mr. Taylor to allow them time to readjust their cross examination strategy. (AllAfrica)

Taylor tried to distance himself from the types of acts committed during Sierra Leone's brutal conflict such as fighters forcing a mother to laugh while they buried her child - saying that he prevented such acts during Liberia's civil strife.

The United Nations-backed tribunal trying the worst acts committed during the decade-long brutal civil war in Sierra Leone today transferred its detention centre to the national prison service. (AllAfrica)

DAKAR Tuesday, July 14, 2009 (IRIN) - Tens of thousands of people in Africa who are infected with trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, go undiagnosed because the only way to detect the deadly infection is through blood exams and a painful expensive lower back puncture, according to the Geneva-based Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). (irinnews.org)

DAKAR Thursday, July 09, 2009 (IRIN) - Military forces from 20 countries in West and Central Africa have launched a regional HIV network to share information on combating HIV within their ranks and communities, following the example of other military-led efforts to fight the spread of HIV. (irinnews.org)

First Of Two Parts - When the power went out that night, Dr. Ibrahim Thorlie was operating on his fifth patient of the day in a maternity hospital with a shortage of antibiotics and running water.

ACCRA Wednesday, July 08, 2009 (IRIN) - As Ghanaians gear up for President Barack Obama’s arrival on 10 July - his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa - they are mixing high hopes with caution. (irinnews.org)

Clutching a crumpled photograph to his breast, Mohammed breaks off his tale and his voice falters.

Charles Taylor's testimony was cut short for the second day in a row, as prosecutors asked for more time to "rearrange strategies" for the cross-examination of the former Liberian president on trial for his alleged role in crimes committed during Sierra Leone's brutal conflict. (AllAfrica)

UK development financiers CDC Group launched a US$5 million private equity investment in Sierra Leone to provide funding to entrepreneurs. (AllAfrica)

DAKAR Wednesday, July 08, 2009 (IRIN) - Contraband trafficking threatens rule of law, democracy and the health of people throughout West Africa, a region that offers criminals “resources, a strategic location, weak governance and an endless source of foot soldiers who see few viable alternatives to a life in crime,” said UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) executive director Antonio Costa. (irinnews.org)