The News Review:

- US steps up anti-drug efforts in West African nations
- Sierra Leone: January 6 for Gadaffi r the Dead?
- Sierra Leone: APC Dreams Big for 2009
- Muslims Celebrate ‘Ashura’ Day in Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone: Notorious Armed Robber Stabbed Police
- UNHCR Investigators arrive in Sierra Leone
- In Sierra Leone APC Shakes Up SLPP in Pujehun

US steps up anti-drug efforts in West African nations
Houston Chronicle United States 
In an interview last week Colombian National Police Cmdr. scar Naranjo said he will soon station 10 anti-narcotics police in nine West African countries with a headquarters in Sierra Leone. “We want to establish a common front with these countries to help identify the Colombian traffickers who come and go” Naranjo said during a police graduation ceremony in El Espinal. In Washington Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Garrison Courtney said Wednesday his agency is also beefing up its presence in West Africa although he did not specify how many agents would be added or where. “The drug traffic is now going both ways. Cocaine is moving through Africa and on to Europe while precursor chemicals from China and India for making methamphetamines are now transiting through on the way to Central America and Mexico” Courtney said.

Sierra Leone: January 6 for Gadaffi r the Dead?
AllAfrica.com Washington 
CGG’s comments is probably the second of such outright attacks condemning the action by the APC government; the first of which came from Festus Minah as president of civil society movement in the country. In a statement dated January 6 2009 the organization said: “We view the conferment of the award as untimely and a sign of insensitivity to the suffering of the people of Sierra Leone by the government. Witnesses victims and history have provided us with information on the role played by the Libyan President in the conflict in Sierra Leone where the victims are still grappling with the scars;”The country as a whole is still grappling with the effects of economic slowdown and weak service delivery institutions such as health and education sectors. Citizens also have to contend with poorly maintained infrastructure such as roads and bridges limited revenue base over crowding of urban towns especially the capital city and a general slow down in the overall development of the country. “Today marks the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Freetown a situation that brought with it gross human rights violations that still remains in the lives of the victims and survivors. This was in fact a culmination of what had already started in Bomaru Kailahun District since March 1991. The question at hand is what are the priorities of our nation are during this period of healing and regrowth.

Sierra Leone: APC Dreams Big for 2009
AllAfrica.com Washington 
The government got less money than expected last year. Production problems at Koidu Kimberlite and the collapse of the dredge at Sierra Rutile meant the government got less money from mining. The price of diamonds also fell and fewer were exported. Food and fuel prices increased.

Muslims Celebrate ‘Ashura’ Day in Sierra Leone
Awareness Times Sierra Leone 
Speaking to journalists at his Garrison Street office the Iranian Cultural Consul Mohammad Reza Gezla Sofla disclosed that Ashura or the 10th Moharram is the day of victory for Islam and Muslims. He said the day is commemorated not only by Muslims but also freedom loving nations throughout the world as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) the grandson of prophet Mohammad (AS) in the battle of Karbala. Sofla said that the day is always observed in the first month of the Islamic calendar and continues through the whole month and well into Safar and Rabi al Amoval the third month in the same calendar.
Related from Maniafest: Muslims celebrate Ashura religious festival

Sierra Leone: Notorious Armed Robber Stabbed Police
AllAfrica.com Washington 
GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_Inset” );John was allegedly stabbed by Kabba Kamara aka ‘r-short’ who was allegedly caught stealing property worth millions of Leones. According to detective constable 2303 Bernard P the incident occurred at No 3 Abdulai Street Kenema where the suspect Kabba Kamara allegedly broke into the bedroom of one Sheku Vandy. “The suspect was overpowered after the owner of the room invited an SD officer in the nearby house. The officer commanded Kamara to surrender himself to him but he refused” Bernard said.

UNHCR Investigators arrive in Sierra Leone
Awoko Sierra Leone 
Newly appointed NaCSA Programme Manager of the Relief & Resettlement unit James Harding in an interview with this Press said that adequate provisions have been made to improve on the welfare and also empower Liberian Refugees and the host communities particularly for integrating Liberian Refugees in the country. Integrating Liberian Refugees benefit from packages which include a house shower and toilet facility and a grant to start up a new career in life. “We are determined and committed to the improvement of all refugee welfare in Sierra Leone” he said. He also explained that both vulnerable and non vulnerable refugees are being catered for by implementing partners such as Caritas Network Movement for Justice and Development and Help Sierra Leone adding that the Government is also supporting refugees through the National Refugee Authority that is being operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The head of UNHCR sub office in Kenema Gabriel Bagui said “we are funding the construction of 250 shelters instead of 400 as earlier planned due to serious financial and manpower constraints” faced by both NaCSA and UNHCR in providing care and support to Refugees across the country. He also intimated that UNHCR and its partners are providing micro – credit loans skills training and agricultural support to refugees who opted for Local Integration to empower them to become self-reliant and meaningful contributors to community development in their respective areas as a durable solution to refugee welfare. Bagui also disclosed that implementing partners like Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) have been providing food to vulnerable refugee’s and they are embarking on gender based violence sensitization while Caritas and MSF is taking care of medical care for the vulnerable and cost recovery for non-vulnerable.

In Sierra Leone APC Shakes Up SLPP in Pujehun
Awareness Times Sierra Leone 
APC big Vons loaded with cash Government vehicles and lofty promises of development and jobs for the residents of Pujehun have stormed every nook and cranny of the Constituency in a bid to take over the Parliamentary seat left vacant after a successful court petition of the 2007 elections held there. The APC’s Secretary General Victor Bockarie Foh accompanied by dozens of APC top-guns including the Southern Province Regional Minister Musa Tarawalie the NaCSA Deputy Commissioner Charles Rogers and Moijue Kaikai of the SLPP-PMDC-APC fame have been giving the SLPP a run for their money. However the SLPP in a show of cohesive solidarity have trooped into the Constituency from all over Sierra Leone. SLPP Secretary General J. Saffa (aka JJ Blood) Women’s Leader Dr. Bernadette Lahai Chairmanship aspirants John ponjo Benjamin and M.