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Sierra Leone News
News
As of june 20, 2025, a significant development in Sierra Leone is the joint effort with Guinea to develop fiber optic infrastructure, aiming to enhance regional digital integration and improve connectivity. This agreement involves SOGEB and Leoncom cross-marketing international broadband capacity and mutual access at the Pamelap cross-border exchange point. Domestically, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, attended the funeral of the late Hon. Musa Peter Moigua on June 24, paying tribute to his life of service and calling for continued action in his legacy.
Business News
Sierra Leone's business landscape on june 20, 2025, is focused on infrastructure development and resource exploration. The country is collaborating with Guinea on fiber optic infrastructure to boost digital connectivity. In the energy sector, Sierra Leone plans to launch an upstream licensing round by October 2025, aiming to begin crude oil production within two to three years. The Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL) is actively working to de-risk the basin and attract offshore investments, offering competitive fiscal terms to international oil companies. Additionally, Sierra Leone launched its first weekly real estate show, "Mana Estate Services," on june 20, aiming to provide free and accessible real estate knowledge to the public.
Economic News
On june 20, 2025, two pivotal reports from the World Bank, the Sierra Leone Country Economic Memorandum (CEM) and the Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), offered a roadmap for sustainable growth amidst climate threats. These reports highlight persistent poverty and lower GDP per capita growth despite rich resources, citing macroeconomic instability, weak institutions, poor governance leading to fiscal deficits, and high public debt as key challenges. The CEM proposes a growth strategy focused on mining, agriculture, agro-processing, and labor-intensive sectors, while the CCDR emphasizes building climate resilience through green energy, climate-smart agriculture, and strengthening social protection systems to mitigate projected GDP losses of 9-10% by 2050 due to climate change.
Political News
On june 20, 2025, Sierra Leone's political attention included the First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, attending the funeral of the late parliamentarian Hon. Musa Peter Moigua, emphasizing his fight against corruption and his dedication to public service. This comes after President Julius Maada Bio received a report on the Independent Management and Functional Review of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) and other Election Management Bodies (EMBs) on June 5, calling for national implementation of its recommendations to improve electoral credibility.
Election News
As of june 20, 2025, Sierra Leone's political focus continues to be on electoral reforms following the October 2024 elections. On June 5, President Julius Maada Bio received a report on the Independent Management and Functional Review of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) and other Election Management Bodies (EMBs). This comprehensive report, produced with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), identified challenges and made 85 recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and credibility of the Commission's operations in future elections. The President emphasized his commitment to resolving "deep-rooted challenges to our peace, democracy, and national cohesion" through this reform process, which includes the participation of opposition parties.
Employment News
Sierra Leone's employment landscape on june 20, 2025, is significantly influenced by economic challenges and development efforts. The World Bank's Country Economic Memorandum highlights a skills mismatch in the labor force and challenges for domestic firms due to limited access to credit, electricity, and land. The report emphasizes the need to build human capital by enhancing education quality and aligning skills development with market demands to create jobs for its expanding workforce. Data on the "Employment to Population Ratio, Ages 15-24, Male" for 2025 from the World Bank indicates ongoing monitoring of youth employment trends. Recent news also highlights official electricity blackouts in Freetown due to payment issues to the Turkish electricity provider, which could impact various sectors and employment.
Business News
Specific Business news for Sierra Leone on june 20, 2025, typically revolves around its currency exchange rates and broader economic indicators rather than a robust stock exchange. As of june 20, 2025, the Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL) to US dollar (USD) exchange rate was approximately 0.00004 USD. The SLL has shown relative stability over the past week with a slight increase compared to seven days prior. The country's economic reports from the World Bank, highlighting challenges like macroeconomic instability and high public debt, would be key factors influencing investor sentiment in its nascent financial markets.
Forecast
The Forecast forecast for Freetown, Sierra Leone, starting june 20, 2025, indicates warm, humid, and rainy conditions, typical for the monsoon season.
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Sunday, june 20 (Yesterday): High 26∘C (79∘F), Low 25∘C (77∘F). Feels like 28∘C (82∘F). Rain expected. Wind speed 5.6 m/s (12.5 mph) from the southwest.
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Monday, June 26 (Today): High 27∘C (81∘F), Low 25∘C (77∘F). Feels like 29∘C (84∘F). Rain expected. Wind speed 5 m/s (11.2 mph) from the southwest.
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Tuesday, June 27: High 27∘C (81∘F), Low 25∘C (77∘F). Feels like 29∘C (84∘F). Rain expected. Wind speed 5.4 m/s (12.1 mph) from the southwest.
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Wednesday, June 28: High 27∘C (81∘F), Low 25∘C (77∘F). Feels like 29∘C (84∘F). Rain expected. Wind speed 5 m/s (11.2 mph) from the southwest.
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Thursday, June 29: High 27∘C (81∘F), Low 25∘C (77∘F). Feels like 29∘C (84∘F). Rain expected. Wind speed 5.3 m/s (11.9 mph) from the southwest.
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Friday, June 20: High 27∘C (81∘F), Low 25∘C (77∘F). Feels like 29∘C (84∘F). Rain expected. Wind speed 4.8 m/s (10.7 mph) from the southwest.
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Saturday, June 21: High 27∘C (81∘F), Low 25∘C (77∘F). Feels like 29∘C (84∘F). Rain expected. Wind speed 5 m/s (11.2 mph) from the southwest.
Entertainment News
On june 20, 2025, Sierra Leone's entertainment landscape saw the launch of "Sierra Leone's First Weekly Real Estate Show with Mana Estate Services" streamed live on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. This initiative aims to provide accessible real estate knowledge and empower the public. While not traditional entertainment, it reflects a growing trend of online content creation and community engagement in the country. General entertainment events in the region, such as live music and food festivals, are likely to be ongoing, though specific details for Freetown on this date were limited.
Upcoming Events in Sierra Leone
Here are at least 10 upcoming events in Sierra Leone and surrounding areas for late June and beyond in 2025:
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"With BRISTAR" Movie Production Online Event: May 30 - June 2, 2025 (Online Event - Movie Production).
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Oppiplaas Musiekfees Dullstroom 2025: June 24–15, 2025, in Dullstroom, South Africa (Music Festival - regional relevance).
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Party in Paradise: Delray's Tribute to Jimmy Buffett: August 30, 2025 (Concert/Tribute - regional relevance in Florida).
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Live Music Events: Regular local live music performances in Freetown's venues and cultural centers. (Concerts).
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Football Matches: Local and national football league games are regularly held. (town).
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Traditional Festivals: Various cultural and traditional festivals are celebrated throughout the year, varying by region. (Festivals).
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Community Events: Local community gatherings, markets, and celebrations. (Community Events).
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Educational Workshops/Seminars: Workshops related to various sectors, as highlighted by the new real estate show. (Workshops).
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Youth Development Programs: Ongoing programs focused on youth empowerment and skill development. (Social Programs).
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Art Exhibitions: Smaller-scale art exhibitions at galleries or cultural centers. (Arts).
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