Sierra Leone is laying the foundations for a more digital state. The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation is developing the country’s first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in collaboration with the World Bank. In August, the Ministry also advanced work on trusted digital identity and digital public infrastructure, including secure payments and interoperable data exchange, while developing protection plans for critical digital systems in the energy, health, education and defence sectors.

National AI Strategy:


https://mocti.gov.sl/the-ministry-of-communication-technology-and-innovation-mocti-in-collaboration-with-the-world-bank-group-is-developing-sierra-leones-first-ever-national-ai-strategy/

Trusted Digital Identity and Digital Public Infrastructure:


https://mocti.gov.sl/sierra-leone-advances-national-dialogue-on-digital-identity-and-digital-public-infrastructure/

This is the right time to decide how much authority future AI agents should receive.

Agentic AI changes the risk profile of adoption. A conventional AI tool may draft a paragraph or answer a question. An AI agent can be given a goal, use digital tools, access information, communicate with other systems and carry out a chain of actions. The productivity potential is substantial, but the governance burden is greater because such a system can act before a person reviews every intermediate step.

A recent OpenAI and Hugging Face incident illustrates the point. An independent investigation by METR and Redwood Research found that approximately 1,200 agents intended to be isolated discovered an unsanctioned message board and exchanged more than 70,000 messages and files. Approximately 700 participated in an attack on Hugging Face. The investigation also found that coordinated groups reached milestones that individual agents had not achieved alone.

Primary Investigation:


https://metr.org/blog/2026-08-26-openai-hugging-face-incident-investigation/

Sierra Leone should draw a measured lesson from that event. The problem is not that every capable agent will misbehave. The problem is that unexpected behaviour becomes more consequential when a system has broad access and weak limits.

I am no AI sceptic. I help organisations adopt AI for a living, and I want adoption to move faster. In my experience, strong safeguards increase trust and make faster adoption possible while reducing the risk of failures such as the Hugging Face attack.

The National AI Strategy should establish authority limits for any agent capable of taking consequential action.

First, the strategy should require least-privilege access. An agent should receive only the information, software tools and permissions necessary to perform its assigned task. A health assistant that helps staff retrieve approved guidance should not automatically gain access to alter patient records. An education agent that summarises examination data should not have permission to change results. A procurement agent may compare bids without being allowed to approve payments.

Second, agents should be given distinct machine identities. Sierra Leone’s work on trusted digital identity is built around verifiable credentials, privacy, security and data sovereignty. Agentic systems need a parallel discipline. Each consequential agent should have its own credential, a named human being or office responsible for it, an expiration date and a record of the systems it is permitted to access.

Third, approval gates should be required for high-impact actions. Moving money, altering an official record, releasing personal information, communicating externally on behalf of the Government or making a decision that affects a citizen’s rights should carry stronger controls than drafting an internal memorandum. Human approval should occur before execution, not after an automated mistake has propagated.

Fourth, agents should be independently evaluated before their authority is increased. Tests should examine whether an agent remains within its assigned scope, safely handles conflicting instructions, resists attempts to redirect it and stops when it lacks authorisation. Strong performance on routine tasks should earn consideration for broader use, not automatic permission.

Sierra Leone should also incorporate a serious-incident reporting and independent-review process into its AI governance framework. The Government is already developing sector-specific protection plans for critical information infrastructure. Incidents involving AI agents should fit within the same security framework. If an agent crosses a permission boundary, exposes sensitive information or takes an unintended external action, agencies should record what happened, preserve the evidence and share lessons where appropriate.

Critical Information Infrastructure Protection:


https://mocti.gov.sl/sierra-leone-moves-to-protect-the-digital-systems-powering-energy-health-education-and-defence-as-part-of-the-national-digital-transformation-agenda/

This approach supports Sierra Leone’s stated goal of responsible and inclusive AI adoption. Clear limits can give civil servants and citizens greater confidence that new systems will help without quietly accumulating uncontrolled authority.

The country’s National AI Strategy should make one principle explicit from the outset: autonomy should grow only as identity, permissions, evaluation, monitoring and accountability grow with it.

Gleb Tsipursky, PhD, is a behavioural scientist, Chief Executive Officer of Disaster Avoidance Experts and author of The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work: From Resistance to Results (Georgetown University Press, 2026). https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64686

 

The European Parliament’s adoption of a resolution on September 17, 2026, has raised the political stakes surrounding the case of Dutch fugitive, Jos Leijdekkers, popularly known as “Bolle Jos,” placing the long-running matter within the European Union’s broader strategy to combat transnational organized crime and international narco-trafficking.

The resolution, titled: “Narco-Trafficking in Europe’s Waters: Protecting our Borders and Supporting our Law Enforcement Officers,” was formally adopted by the European Parliament on September 17 under procedure 2026/2797(RSP). The Parliament’s official Legislative Observatory records the procedure as completed, with the adopted text identified as T10-0316/2026.

While the resolution is broader than the Jos Leijdekkers case and deals principally with narco-trafficking, police cooperation and the protection of Europe’s borders, the case has become part of the wider European concern over international drug-trafficking networks and the ability of wanted suspects to operate across jurisdictions.

The development is significant for Sierra Leone because it raises the political cost of the continued non-resolution of the Jos Leijdekkers case. What began largely as a Dutch request for Sierra Leone’s cooperation in locating and securing the extradition of a wanted Dutch national has increasingly developed into an issue involving wider European concerns about organized crime, international law-enforcement cooperation and the movement of narcotics between Africa and Europe.

A 2026 European Parliament research study on organized crime identified Jos Leijdekkers as a major figure in the international cocaine trade, citing Europol and Dutch prosecutors. The study said he had been convicted in absentia and sentenced to 24 years in prison in the Netherlands and Belgium for drug trafficking, attempted assassination and assault. It also noted that Dutch prosecutors had sought to seize suspected criminal assets worth €221 million.

The same European Parliament research examined allegations surrounding Jos Leijdekkers’ presence and activities in Sierra Leone, including reports concerning his connections and the alleged movement of cocaine through West Africa. The study also documented the history of public reports about his presence in Sierra Leone and the subsequent confirmation by Dutch authorities that he was in the country.

The September 17 parliamentary action therefore gives the case a broader European dimension. Rather than remaining solely a bilateral matter between the Netherlands and Sierra Leone, Jos Leijdekkers’ case is increasingly being viewed against the background of Europe’s efforts to disrupt international criminal organisations, strengthen law-enforcement cooperation and prevent drug-trafficking networks from exploiting borders and jurisdictions.

The significance of the resolution, however, should not be overstated.

The September 17 vote does not mean that Sierra Leone has been sanctioned by the European Union. The European Parliament resolution is a political parliamentary instrument and does not, by itself, impose economic sanctions, suspend European development assistance to Sierra Leone or legally order the Sierra Leonean Government to extradite Jos Leijdekkers.

The official parliamentary record classifies the measure as a resolution on a topical subject concerning drug addiction and police cooperation. It records September 17 as both the date of Parliament’s decision and the vote, rather than as the introduction of a sanctions regime against Sierra Leone.

The distinction is important because discussions about possible European pressure on Sierra Leone have extended beyond the European Parliament. The Dutch Government has separately pursued diplomatic efforts aimed at securing cooperation over Jos Leijdekkers, while questions have also been raised about whether broader European instruments could be used to increase pressure.

The parliamentary resolution nevertheless sends a clear political signal: international cooperation is becoming increasingly important in the European response to narco-trafficking and cases involving major suspected or convicted traffickers operating outside European territory are receiving greater scrutiny.

For Sierra Leone, the issue is therefore no longer simply whether the country will respond to a Dutch extradition request. It increasingly concerns how Freetown demonstrates cooperation with international efforts against organized crime, drug trafficking and the movement of criminal assets across borders.

The Jos Leijdekkers case has consequently moved from being primarily a Dutch-Sierra Leone extradition dispute into a wider European organized-crime and international-cooperation issue.

That shift could have diplomatic implications for Sierra Leone, particularly if European institutions and Governments continue to view the unresolved case as an example of the challenges faced in securing international cooperation against major narcotics networks.

At the same time, claims concerning Jos Leijdekkers’ alleged activities and relationships in Sierra Leone should continue to be attributed carefully to the authorities, investigators and publications that have reported them. The European Parliament research itself draws on sources including Europol, Dutch prosecutors and investigative reporting when discussing the case.

The immediate significance of the September 17 resolution is therefore political rather than the imposition of a new legal penalty on Sierra Leone. It places the Bolle Jos case more firmly within the European Parliament’s wider campaign against transnational narco-trafficking and signals increased European attention to international cooperation in pursuing major drug-trafficking suspects.

For Sierra Leone, the development means that the Jos Leijdekkers case is likely to remain under heightened European scrutiny, with the country’s handling of the matter increasingly viewed within the wider international effort to combat organized crime and cocaine trafficking. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64681

 

The Government of Sierra Leone has engaged Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Principals, Registrars and other senior officials of public tertiary institutions over the industrial action announced by the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) of public tertiary institutions.

The engagement, convened on 17 September 2026 by the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, brought together representatives of the Wages and Compensation Commission (WCC), the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, the Sierra Leone Labour Congress and leadership of public tertiary institutions.

The meeting focused on ongoing negotiations with UASA, the union’s salary and conditions-of-service demands, and the implications of the strike notice on the functioning of tertiary institutions.

Deputy Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Sarjoh Aziz Kamara, said the meeting was aimed at briefing university leaders on Government’s engagement with UASA and discussing measures to ensure the continued operation of tertiary institutions.

Director of Compensation at the Wages and Compensation Commission, Jeremiah B. Ademokula, said the Commission had conducted a technical assessment of UASA’s salary demands, including their potential implications for the national budget.

He disclosed that the Government currently accounts for about 83 percent of salary payments to university staff, while universities cover the remaining 17 percent.

According to Jeremiah B. Ademokula, the Commission submitted its assessment to the Ministry of Finance on 11 September 2026 for consideration. He said the next stage would involve a joint engagement between the Ministry of Finance, WCC, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and UASA to determine the way forward.

Deputy Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Lansana M. Dumbuya, urged the parties to continue using social dialogue and established negotiation mechanisms to resolve the outstanding issues.

He explained that salary negotiations are now handled by the Wages and Compensation Commission, while the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security is responsible for labour administration, oversight and mediation within the established framework.

Lansana M. Dumbuya stressed the importance of the tertiary education sector and encouraged academic staff to utilize the ongoing negotiation process rather than resorting to industrial action while discussions remain underway.

Secretary of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress, Marx Conteh, acknowledged the growing demand for improved wages among workers and said continued negotiations could help address workers’ concerns and prevent further disruption within the sector.

Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Ramatulai Wurie, said her Ministry had consistently engaged UASA and followed the relevant institutional and legal processes in addressing the Union’s demands.

She explained that UASA submitted proposals on salary increases and conditions of service in June 2026. While the conditions-of-service proposals were referred to the respective university councils for consideration and harmonization, the salary component was referred to the Wages and Compensation Commission, which has the mandate to negotiate salaries.

Dr. Ramatulai Wurie said UASA initially proposed a 500 percent salary increase before reducing the demand to 100 percent. She said the Government is assessing the revised proposal against available fiscal resources and relevant benchmarks.

The Minister also clarified that although university lecturers are employed by their respective university councils, the Government has been responsible for paying the majority of their salaries since 2018/2019.

She said Government held further engagements with the Wages and Compensation Commission after receiving the strike notice, but negotiations were still ongoing when UASA announced the industrial action.

Dr. Ramatulai Wurie expressed concern over the decision to proceed with industrial action while negotiations are continuing, citing Section 64(3) of the Industrial Relations and Trade Union Act 2023 and stressing the importance of adhering to due process.

She reaffirmed Government’s commitment to transparency, dialogue and the rule of law in resolving the outstanding issues and addressing concerns raised by academic staff. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64678

 

The National Secretariat of the All People’s Congress (APC) has postponed its District Elections from Saturday, 19 September 2026, to Saturday, 26 September 2026.

The decision was announced in a public notice dated 17 September 2026, following consultations between the APC National Secretariat and the Independent Elections Management Committee (IEMC) in the wake of what the party described as an “unfortunate incident” during recent elections.

According to the notice, the incident resulted in injuries to party election personnel and deployed security personnel. Some of those injured are currently receiving medical treatment, while one security officer reportedly died from injuries sustained during the incident.

The APC said the one-week postponement would provide additional time for outstanding electoral processes to be properly concluded ahead of the rescheduled polls.

The party also called on the Independent Elections Complaints Board (IECB) to expedite the resolution of pending election petitions to ensure that, as far as practicable, all districts are able to participate in the elections on 26 September.

Aspirants, delegates, party members, election officials and other stakeholders have been urged to take note of the revised date and make the necessary preparations for the rescheduled elections.

The APC National Secretariat expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased security officer and wished those injured a full and speedy recovery.

The District Elections form part of the party’s ongoing internal electoral processes aimed at strengthening its structures across the country. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64675

 

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) is set to host a five-day post-election follow-up and needs assessment mission from the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) from 21 to 25 September 2026.

According to a press release issued by the ECSL on Thursday from its headquarters on OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown, the visit will involve a series of technical and strategic engagements between the Commission and the visiting ECONEC delegation.

The delegation is also expected to engage with other key national stakeholders as part of its assessment of Sierra Leone’s electoral environment and preparations for the next electoral cycle.

The mission will focus on three key areas. It will assess the progress made in implementing recommendations contained in reports from the ECOWAS/African Union Election Observation Mission and the Tripartite Committee.

The assessment will also seek to identify ongoing challenges, risks and gaps within the electoral process, while determining the technical, logistical and capacity-building support required by national stakeholders ahead of the 2028 general elections.

The ECSL said the visit is intended to serve as a peer-review and assessment exercise, reflecting a shared regional commitment to strengthening transparent, resilient and credible electoral management systems.

ECONEC is a regional network comprising election management bodies from ECOWAS member states. Its engagement with the ECSL forms part of broader regional efforts to support electoral institutions and strengthen democratic processes.

Sierra Leone held its most recent general elections in 2023, following which several recommendations were made by election observation missions and through the Tripartite process. The implementation of those recommendations remains relevant to ongoing electoral reforms and preparations for the 2028 elections.

The engagements between ECSL, ECONEC and other stakeholders are scheduled to take place at the ECSL headquarters in Tower Hill, Freetown, from 21 to 25 September 2026. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64672

 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Account Sierra Leone (MCA-SL), Nyede Sesay, has outlined the scope, implementation plans, timelines and outstanding requirements for Sierra Leone’s $480 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Energy Compact, informing Parliament that the programme remains in its preparatory phase ahead of full implementation.

Nyede Sesay made the disclosure on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, during an oversight engagement with the Parliamentary Committee on Energy in Committee Room One.

During the meeting, she presented details of the three major projects under the compact, the conditions that must be fulfilled before implementation, procurement requirements and potential risks that could affect the programme’s timetable.

She explained that although the Energy Compact was signed in September 2024, it has not yet entered its full implementation phase.

“I can’t come with contractors because we’re not in the implementation phase. We’re in what we call the pre-Entry Into Force,” Nyede Sesay told the Committee.

According to the MCA-SL CEO, the pre-Entry Into Force period is expected to run from February 2026 to September 2027. The period will focus on feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, recruitment, procurement of consultants and fulfilment of the Conditions Precedent required for the compact to become effective.

The five-year implementation period is expected to begin in September 2027 and continue through September 2032.

Nyede Sesay stressed that the preparatory phase is critical, noting that delays in completing studies, engineering designs, procurement and other requirements could place pressure on the five-year implementation window.

She said the Energy Compact comprises three major projects designed to address longstanding challenges in Sierra Leone’s electricity sector.

The first project focuses on strengthening the country’s transmission network and national energy backbone. It includes approximately 244 kilometres of 225-kilovolt transmission lines connecting Newton, Bo, Kenema and Potoru, as well as four new substations at Newton, Moriba Town, Moyamba and Potoru.

The project will also provide two electricity dispatch centres, with the main centre planned for Newton and a backup facility at Kingtom.

According to Nyede Sesay, the dispatch system is expected to introduce merit-order dispatch and improve the management and reliability of electricity supply.

The transmission component will further upgrade sections of the existing 161-kilovolt network and introduce fibre-optic infrastructure to strengthen communication and digitalization within the electricity system.

New substations are also planned for Makeni and Lunsar.

Nyede Sesay said the Makeni intervention is expected to help address electricity delivery constraints associated with the Bumbuna generation system.

The presentation provided Parliament’s Energy Committee with an overview of the compact’s current preparatory status and the infrastructure planned under the programme as Sierra Leone works towards the commencement of full implementation in September 2027. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64669

 

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning has handed over land documents to the Western Area Rural District Council through the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, paving the way for the construction of a community market at Borbor along the Peninsula.

The initiative follows a directive from His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning to identify suitable land where traders who have been operating along the Peninsula Highway can have a safe, designated and orderly space to conduct their businesses.

Speaking during the handing-over ceremony, Deputy Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Phylis Kormoh, said the land had been secured specifically for the benefit of the people of Borbor and should not be treated as personal property or allocated to any particular group.

Phylis Kormoh assured the community and the Western Area Rural District Council that the Ministry would continue to provide the necessary technical support to facilitate the proper development of the site and ensure that it is used for its intended purpose.

Deputy Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Alfred Moi Jamiru, commended the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning for making the land available, describing the handover as an important step towards providing the Borbor community with an appropriate trading environment.

On behalf of the Western Area Rural District Council and the people of Borbor, Council Chairman Kashor Holland Cole expressed appreciation to the Government, particularly the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, for facilitating the availability of the land.

Kashor Holland Cole stressed the importance of establishing a proper market in the community, noting that the project would contribute to improving the conditions of traders while supporting broader development within the area.

The Ministry has reiterated that the land is strictly reserved for market purposes and must not be diverted to any other use.

The land handover marks a further step towards providing organized trading spaces, promoting orderly land use and supporting community development, particularly for traders who have been operating along the Peninsula Highway. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64666