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2025 will be regarded as another year that shaped the history of Sierra Leone when it comes to notable events. From the bizarre to the shocking ones, political quagmire, economic bailout and the presence of a cocaine kingpin.
The Dutch Cocaine Kingpin Jos Leijdekkers Spotted in Sierra Leone
On January 25, 2025, Dutch Authorities in the Netherlands confirmed that one of Europe’s most wanted criminal and cocaine kingpin, Jos Leijdekkers was residing in Sierra Leone. The news sent shockwave in not only Sierra Leone but other parts of the world.
It was later revealed that the 33-year-old is allegedly the son-in-law of the Sierra Leonean President, Julius Maada Bio. Bolle Jos, as he also known, was spotted in Tihun, the President’s hometown attending New Year’s mass with the First Family in a cathedral. The report revealed that Leijdekkers has been residing in Sierra Leone for the past six months with the aid of the Sierra Leonean immigration.
Although Dutch Prosecutor Wim de Bruin emphasised the significance of extraditing Leijdekkers, that has proven futile as they still believe that he residing in Sierra Leone despite the West African nation denying Leijdekkers presence there.
Famous and Kao Denero Saga
Between early and mid-July, hip hop artist, Kao Denero entered into a prolonged legal dispute with R&B singer, Famous after the latter was attacked by close associate of the hip hop artist. The confrontation led to death threats, theft and physical assault on Famous.
Because of this, Famous started a legal dispute with Kao claiming that he was threatened with a pistol and later assaulted by known associates of Kao Denero days after bitter exchanges between the pair on social media.
The court later ruled in favour of Famous. The two associates, Medlenero and Amadu Sesay were remanded at the Male Correctional Centre after evidence from the prosecution said the sum of $7,000 was also missing at the scene of crime. Kao Denero later apologised to Famous and the two accused were later bailed following a settlement between the parties.
The Missing Baby at Cottage Hospital
The Sierra Leone health sector was rocked by a serious scandal after a baby went missing at the Special Care Baby Unit at the Ola During Children’s Clinic, Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH), popularly known as Cottage Hospital, in Freetown.
The infant went missing on Friday, June 6, 2025 sparking joint security efforts from the Sierra Leone Police and other security apparatus in the country. Both the Sierra Leone Nursing Association (SLNA) and the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association pleaded with the public for release of the baby. Later a reward of Le 100,000 was put together for anyone with information leading to the finding of the baby.
Although the missing child was later found in Segbwema, Kailahun District, nearly 15 days later, the disappearance exposed a major loophole in security at medical facilities in Sierra Leone.
First Lady Fatima Bio and the Koidu Holdings Enigma
One thing you cannot take away from Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Bio, is her boldness. That was put to serious test in March 2025, when she joined protesters marching for equitable workplace and wage increment at Koidu Holdings in Kono.
The protesters were demanding improved workplace condition, recognition of a worker’s union and a 30% salary increment among others. Bio, who spent significant number of years in Kono as a child, sympathised with the workers and the locals and joined them in the march.
Workers at the protest expressed their appreciation to Bio for prioritising their issue despite her busy schedule.
The situation would later escalate into a full legal battle between the First Lady and the Management of the mining company. The company, a subsidiary of South African company, Octea Mining initiated a legal action against the First Lady and the Sierra Leone Government in May, 2025. The company accused Bio and the government of illegal interference, incitement and defamation during and after the peaceful protest in March, 2025.
The company is seeking a USD 20 million in compensation for damages and investor insecurity. In response, the First Lady counter-sued demanding a USD 50 million for defamation against her and her office. Koidu Holdings is intending to sue the Sierra Leone Government for USD 100 million after the country’s Appeal’s Court issued an injunction prevent them from removing their equipment and freezing their bank accounts in the country.
Meanwhile, Koidu Holdings USD 100 million proposed suit is said be for Sierra Leone’s failure to protect the mine from illegal industrial actions and violence.
We believe that this matter is far from over and we wait to see what 2026 will bring out of this.
The No Love Lost Between First Lady Fatima Bio and Chief Minister David Sengeh
March is definitely a month to remember for Sierra Leoneans, or at least for supporters of the ruling party, Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). On the 4th of this month, the First Lady went on a full rant berating some senior members of his husband’s cabinet, including the Chief Minister, David Sengeh.
The First Lady’s reaction surfaced after it emerged that some members of her husband’s cabinet were siding with Koidu Holdings rather than the local people and workers of the company. She described the said cabinet ministers of inhibiting “dog-like” and failures who have underperformed in her husband’s administration.
Bio further described the said ministers as social media puppeteers and bluffers who cannot boast anything tangibly done as servants of the people.
Although the said descriptions were not entirely directed at Sengeh, those with sound mind could deduce that the bulk of the descriptions were directed at Sengeh given the no love lost between the two. This was in fact made apparent by veteran politician and close ally to Bio, Sylvia Blyden in a follow-up post calling out Sengeh in the Koidu Holdings saga.
Karpowership Issues Blackout Notice for Freetown
We were also amazed how a notice for a power cut for Freetown gained traction in June this year. The Turkish power supply announced power cuts starting from June 12 due to arrears owed by the Sierra Leone Government. The company, in response to this, said they will switch off majority of their grids powering the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown at midnight, June 12.
The notice also revealed that the government, led by Kandeh Yumkella, had negotiated for a 1-year extension, but that it was unproductive at the time. At the end, the power company ended up cutting supply to Freetown, except for 6 megawatts of electricity left to supply hospitals and other essential services in the capital.
The blackout served as a chilling reminder to not only Freetonians, but the entire country that there is need for sustainable electricity in the country. Residents urged the central government to invest in renewable energy to back-up thermal plants and the Bumbuna Hydro for sustainable electricity in the country.
As of now, Karpowership is still among the major suppliers of electricity in the country, and the government is still owing the company over USD 40 million. Will they cut power again? Well, we shall see in 2026.
How Sierra Leone and Guinea Almost Went to War Over Yenga
The dispute between Guinea and Sierra Leone over Yenga in Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone took a new turn when Guinean troops released several shots in the town.
The town is part of Sierra Leone on paper, but Guinean troops under Junta leader, Mamady Doumbouya seized the town claiming it is part of their territory. Their presence left many of the local population displaced, fearing for their lives. The sporadic gunshots from the Guineans in April, days after Sierra Leone’s Independence Day celebration is a chilling reminder that Guinea is not ready to handover the seized territory any time soon.
Although Sierra Leonean troops swollen up close to the border town between April and June, that didn’t deter the Guinean from achieving their goal –seizing Yenga!
You Coco Roast Saga
The Sierra Leone Parliament came to the fore in August 2025 not for what many would have thought of.
During the opening of the third session of the sixth parliament, some members of Parliament were seen and heard singing “yu coco roast oh” as First Lady Fatima Bio entered the chamber and made her way to her seat. The incident sparked a major debate highlighting the deep rift between the First Lady and some members at the higher echelons of the SLPP.
The chant is believed to be as a result of the divide in the internal affairs of the SLPP as lower level elections were held across the country. The song itself, to some, is considered derogatory to the First Lady. However, others said the song resonated with some of her candidates losing in the lower level elections of the SLPP.
It was clear that the song left her bitter, as some eyewitnesses said she refused to stand when all were instructed as the President, Julius Maada Bio and his Vice, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh made their way to the well. One video also spotted what appears to be earbuds as the President was presenting his speech in the Well.
Sierra Leone and the Kush Epidemic
The synthetic drug, Kush has been a menace to Sierra Leoneans, especially young people for years now but 2025 is regarded as the worst so far. To describe how serious the issue of Kush is in Sierra Leone, in April 2024, President Julius Maada Bio declared a national emergency on drug and substance abuse. The president described kush as an “existential threat” to the nation.
Bio’s statement in April 2024 has been truer than ever. Since 2022 when the drug gained prevalence, thousands of young people have died with thousands more battling addiction.
A medical report in 2025 by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime indicates that the drug has killed thousands in Sierra Leone and the sub-region.
Medical experts described the drug as a lethal cocktail of cannabis, fentanyl, tramadol, and rare cases, nitazene. Nitizene, a synthetic opioid is believed to be far lethal than fentanyl.
While the Sierra Leone Government has been responding well to the epidemic, there is a growing belief among locals that more needs to be done. Lately, community mobilisation has seen the expulsion and arrests of local dealers in communities across the country.
How a Kush Container Vanished from Freetown’s Port
The infamous West African adage “wonders shall never end” manifested itself at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown when a Kush impounded container went missing.
The container, seized by the police, is said to have contained large quantities of the synthetic drug kush and chemicals used for its production. Reports indicated that the container went missing after it was handed over to the police for safekeeping as they investigate further.
The said container bearing the number TCNU 17239445G1 was intercepted by the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) about a month earlier on Wednesday, May 22, 2025. The 40-foot container was claimed to have held goods from Amazon but investigation later proved that it was containing Kush and materials used for its production.
Some members of the public believe that the container couldn’t have gone missing without the knowledge of some senior members of the force and customs.
As we are penning this down, the 40-foot container is still missing –perhaps vanished into thin air.
Court Orders Immediate Arrest for Malador
There was some amount of shock in July, 2025 when a court in Freetown issued a bench warrant for the Manager of Malador Company, Marwan Malador on charges of fraud.
The Pademba Road Magistrate Court issued the warrant after it was alleged that Malador was involved in a USD 30,000 fraud case which violated Section 20(1)(iv)(a) of the 1916 Larceny Act.
According to the particulars of offence, Malador was said to have conspired with unknown individuals to defraud a certain Roseline Fatu Cowan the said amount as a fee to facilitate her travel to the United States. Cowan’s lead counsel, Ibrahim Kamara informed the court that the accused was deliberately skipping the hearings and pleaded for a bench warrant for Malador’s apprehension.
Malador was later dragged to court and detained for skipping the hearings, but was later granted bail and released.
There are currently no public reports on the matter since he was granted bail. Some people are of the opinion that the matter could have been settled out of court.
Armed Security Personnel Allegedly Block Samura Kamara’s Residence
May was definitely a month to remember in 2025 as armed police personnel from the Operational Support Division (OSD) were said to have blocked the entrance opposition politician, Samura Kamara.
The said armed police men were reportedly blocking the entrances of two of Kamara’s residences in Freetown.
Kamara, who was the presidential candidate of Sierra Leone’s main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) decried the actions of the OSD officers calling “deeply troubling”. He urged the international community to intervene to ensure peace prevails. He also pleaded with the international community to admonish the President, Julius Maada Bio to encourage the rule of law.
Reports, at the time, said the actions of the police showcased the heightened political atmosphere in almost two years after the country’s disputed presidential elections which Bio was declared winner.
The armed police men reportedly left the premises of Kamara. However, it is uncertain how the issue was resolved between Kamara and the security forces.
President Bio Elected New ECOWAS Chairman
We end this compilation of impactful stories for 2025 on a positive note with news of President Julius Maada Bio elected as Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission succeeding Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During his appointment in June 2025, Bio promised to lead regional bloc through collaboration among member states and development partners.
Bio took over the reign during the bloc’s Summit in Abuja, Nigeria. Bio’s leadership is currently under serious test following a military coup in Guinea-Bissau and the ongoing impasse between the bloc and the three Sahel States of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.
However, there are signs of progress as the regional bloc recently foiled a coup in Benin through cooperation and collaboration among member states.
2025 was a year we will not forget in a rush. It was a graceful journey and we look forward to what 2026 have in store for us.
