By Joseph Bankole Thompson MD, PHD
Sierra Leone recorded 0.08% and 0.14% increase in COVID-19 total infections and total recoveries respectively over the week, from September 5-12, 2021.
Pandora Papers: A Welcome Step Towards Much-Needed Transparency
By Abdul Tejan-Cole
First, it was the Paradise Papers. Then in 2020, the FinCen Files were released. Last week, the Pandora Papers was published. According to their website, the documents, about 2.94 terabyte in size, expose the offshore secrets of wealthy elites from more than 200 countries and territories. The elites included 130 Forbes billionaires, 330 politicians, celebrities, royals, religious leaders, ambassadors, drug lords and fraudsters – all people who use tax and secrecy havens to buy properties and hide assets and avoid paying taxes.
Ghana: Judging God’s Children
By Abdul Tejan-Cole
Earlier this year, eight Ghanaian MPs introduced a Bill in parliament to criminalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) activities in Ghana and ostensibly “promote proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values.”
Clipping Kabila’s Wings
By Abdul Tejan-Cole
On September 16, relatives of victims of the 2016-2017 clashes between civilians and Congolese police and army officers in Kasai Central and Kasai provinces, commonly referred to as the Kamuina Nsapu rebellion, lodged a complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against former Congolese President Joseph Kabila.
The Rusesabagina Conviction – More Questions Than Answers
Global AfricaBy Abdul Tejan-Cole
Last Monday, 20 accused persons appeared before the High Court Specialised Chamber for International and Cross-Border Crimes in Kacyiru, a neighbourhood in Kigali, Rwanda. One accused person Paul Rusesabagina was absent. However, it was his case that garnered the most international attention. And it was his case that the court started with.
Guinea: Deposing a Dictatorial Professor
By Abdul Tejan-Cole
On Sunday, September 5, residents of Kaloum in central Conakry woke up to the sound of gunfire. Several hours after and following a deadly gunfight in the Sekhoutouréya palace which resulted in the death of about 22 soldiers, mainly from the Bataillon autonome de la sécurité présidentielle (BASP), they learnt that the government of President Alpha Conde had been overthrown. Many doubted the story's veracity until they saw a video of the captured President circulating on social media.
