Sierra Leone

Several cities in Sierra Leone, including the capital Freetown, have been plunged into darknessfor several days due to the state's failure to pay electricity bills, severely affecting hospitals, families and businesses

85.000 people are currently struggling with epilepsy throughout the country, revealed Max Bangura, executive director of the Sierra Leone Epilepsy Association

National emergency has been declared for growing abuse of kush, a psychoactive mixture of addictive substances made also from human bones affecting 63% of patients of Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital; security has also been tightened at cemeteries

Deaths of victims who have taken the substance known as kush are spreading across the country; often the bodies go unidentified and unclaimed

President Julius Maada Bio hailed China's continued support for infrastructure development during his state visit to China, his second since assuming the presidency

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, 56, Mayor of Freetown, famous for her commitment to the environment, has taken on an additional important role as a female leader "seeing me in this role today helps many women realize that there is nothing they cannot do" she said

In a recent ruling by the disciplinary committee of the Sierra Leone Women's Premier League, the Sierra Leone Police football team was fined for using obscene language and making threatening comments

The launch of the 7th round of Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, UNICEF's international household survey programme, by the Sierra Leone Steering Committee marks a major step forward in the country's commitment to advanced data collection and analysis

Police are investigating the deaths of three girls aged 12, 13 and 17 who were subjected to female genital mutilation in the country's north-western province; despite calls from activists and human rights advocates, it is still legal in Sierra Leone

In a recent interview Joseph Rahall, executive director of Green Scenery, shared his concerns about the rising heat in the country, with various impacts of heatwaves like increases in disease, threats to agriculture and disruptions in fishing industry

Former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma has been granted permission by a Freetown high court to travel abroad on medical grounds, while being charged with treason and other offences for the failed November coup

Dr Edward Nahim, Sierra Leone's leading mental health professional and veteran psychiatrist, has passed away; he worked as a consultant psychiatrist for over 40 years at the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital in Freetown

In a resolute stance to strengthen democratic values in Sierra Leone, ECOWAS President Umar Touray emphasised the regional bloc's unwavering commitment to uphold democracy within the nation