SierraLoaded News
Guma Valley Seeks Le32.5m Government Support for Water Projects in 2027
The Guma Valley Water Company is seeking Le32.538 million in government support under its FY2027 budget to strengthen water supply and expand access across the Western Area. The request was presented by Managing Director Ing. Mariwan Kallon during the Ministry of Finance Bilateral Budget Hearings, where he outlined the Company’s planned interventions for 2027. The proposed funding includes Le4 million as counterpart funding for the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project (WASHAERP), Le19.0377 million for 45 industrial boreholes, Le7.5 million for the Funkiya-Goderich water supply intervention and Le2 million for five minor water sources. According to Guma Valley, the interventions are intended to increase water production, improve supply resilience and extend services to underserved communities across the Western Area. The Company is also targeting the completion of several ongoing infrastructure projects. The Allen Town Treatment Plant expansion is approximately 98.85 per cent complete and is expected to increase production capacity from 3.2 million litres per day to 7 million litres per day. Meanwhile, the 45-kilometre WASHAERP distribution network is 97 per cent complete, while the Mortem and Mongegba works stand at approximately 92.67 per cent completion. Guma Valley also highlighted completed investments, including the expansion of Babadorie Raw-Water Storage to about 132 million litres, repairs to the Kongo Dam and associated weirs, and the completion of the Angola Water Supply System. The Angola project includes a 3 million-litre-per-day treatment plant, a 2.5 million-litre reservoir, 45 kilometres of transmission and distribution mains and about 2,000 customer connections, with an estimated 70,000 beneficiaries. Beyond infrastructure, Guma Valley plans to install about 10,000 meters and add approximately 1,000 new or reactivated customers in 2027. The Company is also targeting 87 percent collection efficiency and a reduction in non-revenue water to below 40 percent. Ing. Kallon said the Company’s focus for FY2027 is to move water services in the Western Area from recovery to greater reliability, while ensuring that investments result in measurable improvements in access and service delivery. The post Guma Valley Seeks Le32.5m Government Support for Water Projects in 2027 appeared first on Sierraloaded .
9/29/2026, 9:49:17 AM
Africanews
Exiled Guinea-Bissau President Embalo signals return amid political tension
Guinea-Bissau's exiled former president Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who was ousted in a November coup, told AFP on Monday he will return and run for president in an election due on December 6.
9/29/2026, 9:43:45 AM
Africanews
UN experts say US deportations to third countries cause 'cascade' of rights abuses
More than 20 United Nations experts on Monday warned against US deportations to third countries, saying the policy is "triggering a cascade of human rights violations".
9/29/2026, 9:31:36 AM
Africanews
Grey expands African payout network as cross-border payments demand grows
The broader ambition is clear: as African consumers and businesses increasingly operate across borders, fintech companies are betting that the next stage of growth will depend less on isolated national payment systems and more on how effectively those systems can connect.
9/29/2026, 9:05:41 AM
Google: Sierra Leone
Equatorial Guinea vs Sierra Leone: Africa Cup of Nations Qualification stats & head-to-head - BBC
Equatorial Guinea vs Sierra Leone: Africa Cup of Nations Qualification stats & head-to-head BBC
9/29/2026, 9:03:39 AM
AllAfrica
Africa: The Takeaway Day 6 - General Debate Ends With Call to Turn Words Into Action
[UN News] After six days of speeches from the UN General Assembly podium, one word rose above all others: peace. This final edition of The Takeaway distils the messages he said reverberated through the Assembly Hall and looks at where the 193-member body goes from here.
9/29/2026, 8:40:54 AM
Africanews
Three Egyptian nationals jailed for 10 years over Italian researcher's abduction
Three Egyptian security officials were sentenced to 10 years in jail in Rome on Monday for the 2016 abduction of an Italian researcher. The ruling marked a significant milestone in a case that has tested relations between Italy and Egypt.
9/29/2026, 8:24:30 AM
Africanews
Nearly 300 migrant workers awarded compensation in Milan Consulate labour case
Nearly 300 workers identified so far will receive on average 50,000 euros ($57,000), with some receiving up to 90,000 euros ($102,000) in unpaid wages and damages for emotional distress, said Luca Stanzione,
9/29/2026, 8:12:04 AM
BBC Africa
Burkina Faso's junta leader opens major gold refinery to keep mining profits at home
Junta leader Ibrahim Traoré wants the country to profit more from its mineral wealth.
9/29/2026, 8:01:24 AM
SierraLoaded News
Lungi Bridge Feasibility Studies to Begin in November With US$1.6 Million USTDA Support
Feasibility studies for Sierra Leone’s long-planned Lungi Bridge are expected to begin in November 2026, with US$1.6 million in support from the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh has announced. Sengeh disclosed the development after meeting representatives of U.S.-based Acrow Corporation in New York during the 81st United Nations General Assembly week. He said the meeting, which also involved National Investment Board Executive Director Dr Edward Hinga Sandy, focused on progress on the bridge project and the studies required to advance it. According to Sengeh, Acrow will undertake a series of critical studies beginning in November, including a traffic-flow study and environmental and social studies. He said the work is necessary to establish the information required to make the project bankable and support efforts to secure private-sector financing. The announcement marks another step in efforts to develop a direct road connection between Freetown and Lungi, where Sierra Leone’s international airport is located. The Lungi Bridge is listed by the U.S. Department of Commerce among Sierra Leone’s major transport projects in the pipeline, alongside development of Lungi International Airport and other infrastructure investments. The latest studies should not be interpreted as the first feasibility work ever conducted on the proposed bridge. Sierra Leone has undertaken earlier assessments of the Freetown-Lungi connection. The African Development Bank, for example, financed a Freetown-Lungi road study that examined technical feasibility, economic viability and environmental and social impacts. In 2019, the Sierra Leone Government also reported that its Presidential Infrastructure Initiative had completed a national feasibility study on the Lungi Bridge and had begun efforts to mobilise resources through a competitive process. The project entered a new phase in June 2025 when the Government of Sierra Leone signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Acrow Corporation of America for the design, build, operation and transfer of the Lungi Bridge. The National Investment Board described the agreement as the basis for moving the project into its next stage. The proposed arrangement places Acrow at the centre of efforts to develop and finance the project. In August 2026, U.S. Ambassador-designate Daniel Travis told a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing that an agreement was in place between Sierra Leone and Acrow for the bridge. However, the Sierra Leone Government has previously clarified that the United States’ role is being pursued primarily through private-sector investment rather than direct U.S. government funding for construction. Information and Civic Education Minister Chernor Bah said in August that the government was seeking American private capital through a commercial arrangement to make the project bankable. Sengeh said the Lungi Bridge project already has a commitment from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), although the latest announcement did not provide details on the value or final terms of that support. The Chief Minister said the additional studies would help provide the basis for securing the private financing needed for the bridge. The government has previously presented the bridge as a major infrastructure project intended to improve connectivity between Freetown and Lungi and strengthen access to the country’s international aviation gateway. The project has been under discussion for several years, with previous proposals facing financing and implementation challenges. Sengeh said the government would take a systematic approach to the project and would not rush the process of securing foreign investment. “We will not be rushed into anything but we will be systematic about our approach to welcoming Foreign Direct Investment in Sierra Leone,” he said. The November studies are therefore expected to provide updated technical, traffic, environmental and social information that can be used in determining the project’s financial and investment viability as Sierra Leone and Acrow work towards the next stage of the Lungi Bridge project. The post Lungi Bridge Feasibility Studies to Begin in November With US$1.6 Million USTDA Support appeared first on Sierraloaded .
9/29/2026, 7:58:31 AM
SierraLoaded News
Chief Minister David Sengeh Endorses Amina Mohammed for UN Secretary-General
Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr David Moinina Sengeh, has backed United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed for the position of UN Secretary-General. Sengeh made the remarks in a social media post in which he praised Mohammed’s leadership and described her as one of his strongest pillars during his eight years of work at the United Nations. “Deputy Secretary-General to the United Nations, H.E Amina J. Mohammed, has been one of my strongest pillars over the past 8 years at the UN,” Sengeh wrote. He said he had witnessed Mohammed create, champion, lead and support several global initiatives, including the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), Transforming Education, AI and Development, Global Citizens and Goalkeepers. Sengeh also highlighted what he described as Mohammed’s approach to leadership, saying she carries out her work “with grace and kindness while welcoming others in.” “If she were to be interested, the world should unanimously nominate her to be the UN Secretary-General,” he said. Sengeh and Mohammed recently appeared together at a United Nations event on artificial intelligence and human development during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The UN Office for Partnerships listed both officials among speakers at the September 23 event, which focused on the implications of artificial intelligence for human development, culture and society. Mohammed, a Nigerian national, has served as UN Deputy Secretary-General since February 2017. Before joining the UN leadership team, she served as Nigeria’s Minister of Environment and previously worked as a Special Adviser to former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on post-2015 development planning. The UN credits her with leading the process that contributed to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. However, Mohammed has publicly said that she is not seeking the UN Secretary-General position. During a UN press conference on July 7, 2026, she was asked about reports linking her to the position. Mohammed responded that she was “not a candidate” and said she had no intention of pursuing the job. She also expressed hope that the next Secretary-General would be a woman from Latin America and the Caribbean. The post Chief Minister David Sengeh Endorses Amina Mohammed for UN Secretary-General appeared first on Sierraloaded .
9/29/2026, 7:51:21 AM
AllAfrica
Africa: All of Africa Today - September 29, 2026
[allAfrica]
9/29/2026, 7:26:26 AM
Africanews
Nigeria: Igbos In Abuja mark New Yam Festival in grand style.
For the Igbos, the festival is more than a celebration of the first harvest of the year. It is a cultural homecoming, a moment when people reconnect with their roots, honour their heritage and give thanks for the blessings of the farming season.
9/29/2026, 6:33:42 AM
AllAfrica
Africa: Africa Must Build Epidemic Preparedness Before the Next Outbreak
[Nile Post] Africa's ability to respond to the next epidemic will depend less on how many researchers it trains or scientific papers it publishes and more on whether the continent can detect outbreaks, conduct research and make critical decisions faster when a health emergency strikes.
9/29/2026, 5:33:43 AM
Africanews
Sudan foreign minister slams US over visa block on army chief
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim criticized the United States Monday for failing to issue a visa to Army Chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan to attend the U.N. General Assembly, while calling for an end to foreign support fueling the country’s civil war.
9/29/2026, 5:27:26 AM
AllAfrica
Africa: Paying for Health Care for All - Fiscal Consent Across Africa
[Afrobarometer] Public support for higher taxes depends on whether the state can deliver.
9/29/2026, 5:13:02 AM
AllAfrica
Africa: Child Malnutrition Is One of Africa's Biggest Health Challenges - Food Aid Is Only Part of the Solution
[The Conversation Africa] Malnutrition among children under five remains one of sub-Saharan Africa's most persistent public health challenges. Countries and development partners have introduced numerous nutrition programmes. Yet millions of young children continue to suffer from poor nutrition.
9/29/2026, 4:35:48 AM
BBC Africa
Journalist to be crowned king in Uganda after bitter succession dispute
Kijanangoma is being crowned amid a dispute over a young heir whom the royal clan does not recognise.
9/28/2026, 11:44:49 PM
BBC Africa
Three Egyptian security officials convicted of kidnapping Italian student
Giulio Regeni's tortured body was found days after he went missing on a research trip to Egypt in 2016, while studying at Cambridge University.
9/28/2026, 11:39:15 PM
AllAfrica
Africa: 'Define Success by Problems You Tackle and Solve' - Prof Moghalu to USIU-Africa Grads
[allAfrica] Nairobi -- Commencement address by At the 48th Commencement Ceremony of the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) on September 26, 2026
9/28/2026, 10:44:35 PM
Africanews
Pope Leo ends France trip in Metz, spotlighting Schuman and EU unity
Pope Leo XIV ended his four-day visit to France in Metz on Monday by urging Europe to build on its Christian heritage and culture of dialogue rather than succumb to what he called the “desire for domination” behind many of today’s wars.
9/28/2026, 9:37:16 PM
SierraLoaded News
Agriculture Ministry, Partners Step Up Efforts to Eliminate Rabies Deaths by 2030
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in collaboration with key partners, has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030, as Bombali District reports a concerning rise in dog bite incidents and suspected rabies cases. Speaking at the 2026 World Rabies Day commemoration held at the De Wizzard Conference Hall in Bo Town on Monday, 28 September 2026, the Deputy Minister II of Agriculture and Food Security, Ing. Bryan Smart-Kanu, underscored government’s determination to tackle rabies under the One Health approach aligned with the Feed Salone agenda. He noted that rabies remains almost always fatal once clinical symptoms appear but is entirely preventable through timely vaccination and proper post-exposure care. He outlined ongoing government interventions, including expanded mass dog vaccination campaigns, strengthened veterinary and surveillance systems, and improved coordination across human and animal health sectors. He, however, stressed that success depends on shared responsibility, urging pet owners to ensure routine vaccination of dogs and cats, and encouraging immediate medical attention for bite victims, including thorough washing of wounds with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. The Director of Livestock and Veterinary Services, Mr. Saidu Bamayange, highlighted the broader ecological risks associated with rabies transmission, noting that environmental degradation and encroachment into wildlife habitats are increasing human–animal interactions. He called for stronger surveillance systems, particularly in forest-edge communities, and emphasized responsible animal ownership as a key preventive measure. Presenting district-level data, Assistant Director of Livestock and ISAVET National Coordinator, Mr. Salam Saidu, revealed a steady increase in dog bite cases in Bombali District, rising from 383 cases recorded between Week 1 and 38 in 2025 to 469 cases in the same period in 2026. He further disclosed that 12 suspected rabies-related deaths were recorded in the district between January and August 2026, describing the situation as alarming and calling for urgent improvements in data sharing and coordination between animal and human health authorities. Stakeholders present at the event included representatives from the National Public Health Agency under the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Population Services International (PSI), as well as students, teachers, and other partners in Bo District, all of whom reaffirmed support for efforts to make rabies a disease of the past in Sierra Leone. The post Agriculture Ministry, Partners Step Up Efforts to Eliminate Rabies Deaths by 2030 appeared first on Sierraloaded .
9/28/2026, 9:34:10 PM
SierraLoaded News
SLAJ Reaffirms Commitment to Information Integrity, Universal Access to Information
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting universal access to accurate, timely and credible information, describing it as a cornerstone of democracy, accountability and effective public participation. The statement was issued as Sierra Leone joined the global community on 28 September to observe the International Day for Universal Access to Information, held under the theme: “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder.” SLAJ highlighted that the rapid growth of digital platforms has significantly expanded access to information while also increasing the spread of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, posing serious challenges to information integrity. SLAJ President Alhaji Manika Kamara emphasized that timely access to reliable information from public institutions remains essential in countering false narratives and strengthening public trust. He noted that transparency and openness reduce the space for misinformation to thrive, stressing that “when accurate information is accessible, false information has less room to survive.” According to him, journalists have a professional duty to verify information, uphold ethical standards and ensure accurate and contextual reporting. However, he stressed that this responsibility can only be effectively fulfilled when public institutions provide timely and credible access to information. SLAJ called on government institutions to fully comply with access-to-information obligations, proactively disclose information of public interest and strengthen a culture of transparency. The association also urged journalists and media practitioners to maintain high professional standards, while encouraging technology platforms and citizens to act responsibly in the creation, sharing and consumption of information in the digital space. SLAJ further emphasized that tackling information disorder requires a collective effort involving government, the media, technology companies and the general public, noting that safeguarding information integrity is a shared responsibility essential for protecting the public’s right to know. The post SLAJ Reaffirms Commitment to Information Integrity, Universal Access to Information appeared first on Sierraloaded .
9/28/2026, 8:45:21 PM