Sierra leone
Sierra Leone lawmakers vote to abolish death penalty
A majority of MPs voted by acclamation in favour of an amendment abolishing the death penalty, according to AFP journalist who was present in the chamber.
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Sierra Leone declares curfew amid third virus wave
The country's infection rate is far below that in the West, having recorded 5,652 cases since March last year, including 102 deaths, in a population of 7.5 million.
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Sierra Leone government moves to abolish death penalty
No execution has taken place in the country since 1998, and death penalties are often commuted.
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Sierra Leone government under fire over graft accusations
The scandal has come as an embarrassment to the West African state's president, Julius Maada Bio, who after coming to power in 2018 launched a graft probe into his predecessor.
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Sierra Leone to receive 200,000 virus vaccine doses
The West African nation's official infection rate is far below that of the West, having recorded 3,880 cases since March, and 79 deaths.
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Finnish judges are in Liberia for Gibril Massaquoi's landmark war crimes trial
"My father was shot dead before my eyes, right in front of this building. I can never forgive my dad's killer".
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Former Sierra Leone rebel leader granted early release
Augustine Gbao, 72, a former leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), had served 17 years of a 25-year sentence for acts including terrorism, extermination, murder, rape, and sexual slavery.
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Sierra Leone doctors' strike leaves COVID-19 patients stranded
The strike marks an escalation in a row between doctors and government over what doctors say is a misuse of funds for the coronavirus response in the West African country.
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Sierra Leone's president accuses main opposition party of inciting violence
Last week, the United Nations called on the authorities and all political parties to work together to avoid distracting from the fight against the virus, which has so far infected 291 people and killed 17.
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Sierra Leone scraps ban on pregnant girls attending school
In 2015, Sierra Leone banned pregnant girls from going to school after a surge in sexual violence and teenage pregnancies driven by the Ebola crisis.
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Sierra Leone pro football league gets first female coach
The East End Tigers named police officer Victoria Conteh, who formerly coached the country's female football team, as its head coach.
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Idris Elba to receive Sierra Leone passport in first-time visit
Elba was born in London but his mother is from Ghana and his father from Sierra Leone, where he has expressed interest in investing in eco-tourism.
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Here’s how to make Africa’s aviation industry soar
While it is evident that aviation in Africa has the potential to fuel economic growth, several barriers exist.
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West Africa wealth inequalities reaching extreme levels: report
A report by Oxfam and Development Finance International shows that the wealthiest 1% of West Africans own more than everyone else in the region combined.
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Pandemic bonds face scrutiny after Ebola outbreak yet to trigger payout
Payouts are triggered once a virus outbreak crosses an international border and claims at least 20 lives in each of at least two countries.
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Sierra Leone's president declares 'rape scourge' a national emergency
According to police statistics, reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence nearly doubled last year to over 8,500, a third of which involved a minor.
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Sierra Leone opens graft probe into actions of previous govt
Bio took over as president after winning last April's election run-off following a tumultuous campaign in which he targeted corruption.
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Soaring sexual violence pushes S.Leone to face 'rape culture'
Thousands of children and young girls were raped last year in Sierra Leone - a silent epidemic of suffering in one of the world's poorest countries.
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Hundreds march in Sierra Leone against sexual violence
The first ladies of Liberia, Niger, Ghana, Chad and Gambia gave their backing to the initiative.
