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The Unity Party and the All People’s Congress Party have both debunked the Political Parties Regulation Commission’s assertion that they have conceded to ban rallies during political campaign season leading up to the 2023 Presidential elections. In a short Interview, the leader of the Unity Party Madam Femi Claudius Cole informed this medium that she was not informed via any means or in any capacity and was therefore not represented. She referred to the idea as a "stupid excuse having no bearing on violence happening or result of elections" and furthered that the notion to ban brings up questions as to why now after years of the norm. She stated that the idea only points to police inefficiency to man a process that occurs once every electioneering period spanning over a short period and properly planned given the ballot for days and districts. Secretary General of the All People’s Congress Party Lawyer Lansana Dumbuya when contacted denied their agreeing to not rally. According to him, he and other members were present and raised concerns that putting a ban will erode on people’s human and constitutional rights and guaranteed that their party will monitor happenings to curtail violence, which was the main reason given for the ban. He went on to say the ban could be a recipe for violence for members traveling to designated rally areas, who might have amassed a crowd whilst traveling and that might incur actions from the police. He concluded that the Chairman had directed them to dialogue with the Sierra Leone People’s party who had also raised concerns and they being a major political party but that the meeting has not been scheduled by the Chairman.

Political Parties have decided not to rally come June 24th 2023 Presidential elections. This agreement was arrived at on Monday 27th March at the Political Parties liason meeting held by Political Parties Regulation Commission for all seventeen political parties in light of June 4th Elections. The question regarding the need for rallies was posed to them in the process of devising ways to minimize opportunities for violent occurrences which are likely to take place during electioneering and campaign periods and banning rallies was heatedly debated. Fifteen of the seventeen political parties are said to have agreed with the exception of the Sierra Leone's People's Party and the All People's Congress who both raised concerns relating to the security for the location of convergence, the impact on local trading activities different from previous years and celebrating their party stalwarts. In response, the PPRC stated that ample security will be made present by the Sierra Leone police to protect locations, smaller groups moving to destinations and a small convoy moving to the location. According to PPRC, another meeting will be held soon with fully compliant parties (fully registered and operational) to discuss implementing this agreement especially to decide on maximum people and vehicles allowed per procession at a time. According to the Communications' head Lucien Momoh, all seventeen parties agreed to the ban of rallies during campaign period for the 2023 Presidential elections slated for June 24th.

The Chairman of the Political Parties regulatory Commission (PPRC) Mr. Abdulai Masiyambay Bangurah has said that only three out of seventeen political parties are currently qualified to contest in the Presidential elections on June 24th 2023. He made this statement during an engagement of electoral stakeholders, organized by Centre for Accountability and the rule of Law(CARL) at Country Lodge, Freetown on Thursday 23rd March 2023. Chairman Bangurah explained that the Political Parties Act dictates that political parties must be fully registered and operational to be included by Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone onto the ballots. He outlined that compliance to this dictate requires the payment of thirty six Million Leones as registration fee and an inclusive list of all founding members, demonstrating diversity based on religion, region and tribe. This first step is for registration as a political party. Also there should be in existence regional offices in all five regions and those offices should be functional. He emphasized that parties should have been categorized as functioning before nomination date slated in April and submission to electoral Commission of Sierra Leone as those parties to be dealt with based on compliance and adherence to regulations. At present, he stated that only the Sierra Leone People's Party, the All People's Congress and the National Grand Coalition are fully registered and functioning and that might see them as the only parties on the ballots during elections.

Mayoral candidate of the Sierra Leone People’s party Mohamed Gento Kamara is receiving backlash for utterances made during a speech at the Kissy road Masjid, in the East End of Freetown on Friday 24th March 2023. The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists were first to decry his utterances in a video, where he could be seen and heard lobbying for support given his faith and tribe. According to SLAJ, campaigns should be based on developmental issues and not religious rhetoric capable of undermining the much adulated religious tolerance that Sierra Leone is known for. They called on the inter-religious council to intervene during the electioneering period and warned politicians not to repeat this act. Following this release was a social media post from former President of Sierra Leone Bar Association Madam Basita Michael, who reminded that candidates, members and supporters are subject to provisions of the Political Parties Act 2022 and they should therefore refrain from aggravating tensions emanating from a religious standpoint. The media team of Mohamed Gento Kamara has responded with a statement pointing out that the shortened video was a deliberate act to take the Mayoral aspirant's statement out of context. They highlighted Gento's ties to the Christian faith. Some citizens are however calling out multitudes for their hypocrisy in this matter. According to some reactions on social media, the act of visiting places of worship to deliver campaign messages is a norm and an outrage at it happening now is blatant hypocrisy stemming from political dishonesty. We were able to obtain the full video of Gento's speech delivered at Kissy road masjid on Friday, from which the 2 minutes video was obtained.

First Lady of the republic of Sierra Leone Madam Fatima Bio has visited the football heroes of Port Loko city known as Bai Bureh Warriors whilst on her way to Kambia, on the invitation of the team. The first lady on Saturday 25th March, 2023 was welcomed by Chairman of the team, players and Honorable Alpha Khan, a stakeholder of the district. Speaking, Honorable Alpha Khan said that he was unsurprised by her visit given her unassuming nature as mother of all citizens regardless of their cardinal directions. Speaking to those assembled, Madam Fatima Bio acknowledged receipt of the team’s letter requesting support for kits in light of approaching matches, delivered by her personal friend and ally Sylvia Olayinka Blyden who was inopportune to attend. She made a donation of three set of jerseys, studs football boots and balls and concluded with a donation of fifty million old Leones (Nle 50,000) to be directed to the feeding of the team, as a show of love and unity gifted by football. She remarked on the historical significance of the name being used by the team and assured of her continued support to them, regardless of her allegiance to East End Lions. Below is a short video of her visit issued by her team:

Rapper Kao Denero real name Amara Dennis Turay-Jalloh has blamed recent allegations of nepotism on bittered persons who blame him for the imprisonment of colleague rapper Laj. Kao Denero was doing a live video to respond to Ibrahim Koroma known as Prezo Koroma's allegation that Kao Denero was using his office and station as entertainment Ambassador for personal gain only. According to Prezo Koroma, the Ambassador was denied a U.S visa due to names of family submitted for an entertainment summit scheduled to take place in America. Prezo Koroma furthered that the names of Kao Denero's brother and daughter included, coupled with a fake address and fake organization are reasons for the denying of visas to the Ambassador and entourage. During a live video in response to these accusations, Ambassador. Kao informed that the summit invitation was lobbied personally by him and not the government of Sierra Leone and that he had committed no wrongdoing in including the names of his brother and daughter. Instead he considered his actions magnanimous and inclusive of musicians, DJ and Comedian. He retorted that these allegations stem from anger and hate relating to Laj's imprisonment but emphasized that he was not to blame, rather the rapper's action of reckless abandon and lawlessness is to be blamed. Kao Denero has received tremendous backlash from entertainers and family of Laj who view his statement as a confession of his complacency resulting in the long detention and imprisonment of Laj. In the wake of this, an entertainment contributor Egerton Shabba went on Prezo Koroma's live to warn Kao Denero to not conduct another live video, as this he says will warrant release of all evidence gathered during investigation into this matter, including the nonexistent organization stated as issuing the invite. Ambassador Kao responded by releasing another video labeling him and others like him as haters of his office, person and status.

The Sierra Leone Social Workers Steering Committee in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare on the 21st & 22nd March, 2023 held a two days conference which culminated in the establishing of a national association. The conference was held to celebrate the World Social Work Day with the theme: “Respecting Diversity through Joint Social Action”. It was held at Milton Margai Technical University, Goderich Campus, Freetown. Representative from Social Work Educators, Ishmael Kebbay in his statement emphasized prioritization of the field and spoke about the Social Work Bill that is in final stages to be laid in parliament, entitled ‘The Professional Social Workers Regulatory Council, Act 2023.’ This bill he promised will ensure the recognition and standardization of the profession. Musa Maurice Momoh Kargbo and executive member of the steering committee, complimented the efforts of the Ministry of Social Welfare & UNICEF for working to positively impact social problems affecting vulnerable people in Sierra Leone. Senior Lecturer from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Prof. Alfred A. Jarrett explained how “Social Work is a profession of many faces in human interaction,” given its benefits of service to mankind. During the second day, UNICEF representative Wilberforce Tengey recognized the essential role of social work in daily routines. He handed over 84 motorbikes and 64 computer tablets to the Ministry of Social Welfare to aid the work of social workers at the Ministry across the sixteen districts. He pledged UNICEF’s support to continue to work with the Ministry of Social Welfare to improve social work education, regulating the practice of social work and developing, operating procedures and system to help front lines staffs to better serve children, women and other vulnerable populations. In her address, the Keynote Speaker, who doubles as the Honorable Minister of Social Welfare, Madam Baindu Dassama Kamara whilst launching the Sierra Leone Association of Social Workers (SLASOW): encouraged all Social Workers & Educators to continue to serve humanity to the best of their ability. The Coordinator, Sierra Leone Social Workers Steering Committee, Michael Mitchell Conteh Esq. led the process for the validation of the Constitution and members present unanimously officially adopted the legal document (Constitution) of the Association, which amongst other things under the Transitional Clause authorized the Coordinator, Michael Mitchell Conteh to form a 12-Man Interim Transitional Executive to take the Association to its first Annual General Meeting for a regular structure to be decided on.

The Sierra Leone Police in a press release issued on 24th March 2023, has chided Amnesty International for what they view as a biased report, which had blamed the security sector for the death of twenty six citizens during the 10th August protest. The report from Amnesty International had alleged that disproportionate use of force during and in the wake of the three days protest (8-10th) had led to escalation of violence and disregard of human rights in pursuit of suspects and arrested individuals. The police release debunked the allegation that the use of force was disproportionate to the situation and furthered that it was necessary and reasonable. The release accused Amnesty International of failing to report on how civilians murdered unarmed police officers and this omission the police deems as partial and insensitive. The police release promised adherence to local and international law, as well as human rights dictates.

Amnesty International has released a report of their investigation into the incident of August 2022 which led to the death of police officers and civilians, totaling twenty six people during a three day unrest, climaxing on the 10th August. According to Amnesty International’s report, excessive use of force by security personnel is a significant factor of the escalation into chaos and increased death toll during the three day unrest. According to Amnesty International, interviews conducted alleged that security forces were heavy handed in their pursuit to quell the protests particularly on the third day and this led to disregard of basic human rights. The Regional Director of Amnesty International for West and Central Africa Samira Daoud was quoted whilst recommending use of force proportionate to situations faced. The report highlighted missing necessities in the wake of the event, which were compiled over a seven months period, including need for effective and transparent investigations into excessive use of force and killings of all persons, need for fair trials and Victims’ families not being allowed to bury loved ones. Here's a link to the report https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/03/sierra-leone-seven-months-after-augusts-protests-which-turned-violent-in-some-locations-no-justice-yet-for-those-injured-or-the-families-of-those-killed/?utm_source=FBPAGE-IS&utm_medium=social&utm_content=9213412051&utm_campaign=Other&utm_term=-No This report has received huge condemnation from the security forces and government alike, whilst opposition has used it as a vindication for complaints made regarding the said incident.

President Bio tells inhabitants of Dea Chiefdom President Julius Maada Bio has, on Tuesday, 21st March, 2023, told the inhabitants of Dea Chiefdom that when the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) was in power, it used to spend public funds on individual pockets in the street but since 2018, his government has been spending public funds on the free quality education which is the foundation for an enlightened Sierra Leone. President Bio made this statement in Baiwalla town, Dea Chiefdom, in the Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone, during a working visit to the district, where he also said that some unreasonable Sierra Leoneans were grumbling that President Bio does not dole out cash in the street like his predecessor, thereby ignoring the fact that he has been doling out cash on their school going children. “I prefer to spend public funds in educating the future leaders of this country than putting them in private pockets. The economic burden of paying school fees for over two million Sierra Leonean children is very heavy but I will carry it because it is the surest way to alleviating poverty in Sierra Leone,” he told his audience who were mainly supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). He said the investment in education will not give an instant profit but in the long term, Sierra Leoneans would know that it worths doing so, noting that already, the recent results from public exams have vindicated him in that regard. He reminded the people of Dea Chiefdom that the SLPP is theirs and their own way of developing Sierra Leone, adding that whenever the SLPP is out of power, APC would destroy everything that the SLPP has built and invested in. “We have heard that the APC is now threatening to remove the free quality education scheme if they will the June 24, 2023, election. Once that happens, the paying of school fees, the school buses that my government has provided, the teaching and learning materials that we are providing, the free school meals, among other benefits, will be removed. That is the APC for you. So, we should not allow them to come back to power,” he told his audience who responded with a thunderous shouting and clapping in acceptance of what he has said. President Bio he was happy to see the return of Daniel Gaima, who served as Deputy Minister of Lands, Deputy Minister of Youth, under the former APC-led government, to the SLPP which he left in 2007. “Kailahun district should not vote again for the APC because they have threatened to destroy everything that the SLPP has built. You should not vote for any APC candidate that is vying for parliamentary and Local Council seats in this district. It would be a waste of votes,” he told them and they accepted with a standing ovation and shouting. He told them that the five-year-term was not enough to develop the entire country, and solicited their votes in the June 24, 2023 general elections. Former Deputy Minister of Lands in the APC-led government, Daniel Gaima, said that he was happy to return to the SLPP which is the most democratic and politically tolerant party in Sierra Leone. “I was a founding member of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) party. So, when we supported the former APC-led government in the 2007 presidential runoff election and they won, I was appointed deputy minister in three ministries but I have now returned to the party which was the party of my forefathers,” he said happily.]

Young rapper Foodie Kay, real name Fudie Kargbo has taken to his facebook handle to narrate his reason for not trusting the school system in Sierra Leone which revolves around bullying by his university lecturer. According to the rapper, whilst in the university studying Mass Communication an honors student, his teacher had informed him to quit school and go to the streets where he belonged. The young man furthered that his teacher also took his love of quiet as a sign of his partaking of drug substances, particularly marijuana. Foodie concluded that this act of bullying led to his mental health issues and made him never want to return to school. The young man now a rapper, has released four singles, one of which is "Baba" with a singer called Big Morse, which I highly recommend. Here's a link to Baba https://audiomack.com/foodiekay1/song/baba

Ibrahim Koroma known as Prezo KOroma is to start a new Television show on Karima TV in Kenema, starting this weekend on March 25th. The show will be focused on entertainment, primarily celebrity profile of various sector participants including Artists, Athletes, DJs, bloggers and more. The show called celebrity profile, will be streamed online as well. According to Prezo Koroma, the industry needs as many shows to promote works done based on our perspective and narrative. He stated that his absence from the scene has reinvigorated his passion to contribute to the improvement of his colleague entertainers. He refrained from speaking on his recent conviction relating to the Laj case and reaffirmed that his focus is now on making entertainment grow as before.