To Rehabilitate or Not: Challenges to Reintegrating Inmates
By: Roland Kallon
10 March, 2010
After almost fourteen years of a devastating conflict in Liberia, “prison rehabilitation” is hardly a priority for most Liberians; infrastructure and man-power development seem to be more pressing matters. People are more interested in tangible development projects (roads, schools, health centers etc), something they can touch and see. To a large extent, most Liberians are not concerned about the state of the nation’s prisons or those who occupy them. Read detail
Musa Bility and the Future of Liberian Football
By Nvasekie N. Konneh
09 March, 2010
The pending election of the governing body of football in Liberia pits three candidates against each other for the presidency. They are Ms. Izetta Wesley, the incumbent president, and the two other challengers, Musa Bility, a prominent Liberian businessman and George Wah Williams, former LFA secretary general. There are also candidates running for the posts of VPs for administration and operation respectively as well as the post of the secretary general. Of the three candidates for post of the president, the two main contenders are Izetta Wesley and Musa Bility. Read detail
Concerned Mandingo Society Condemns Lofa Violence.
Courtesy: Public Agenda
08 March, 2010
The Concerned Mandingo Society of Liberia (COMASL) says it is deeply saddened by the murder of a student in Lofa and said it sincerely hopes to see the day when necessary killings are eradicated from the society. Besides the said it also staunchly condemn, with vigor and tenacity, the ugly incident that occurred in the County on Friday as a result of the murder incident. In a press statement released yesterday, the group maintained that “This shameful incident has deeply saddened us as institution and has reminded us as Liberians about the difficulty of the task of healing and reconciliation in the postwar Liberia, as well as the profundity of the divide in which our unfortunate history has placed us. Read detail
UNMIL Refutes Claims Of One-Sidedness
Courtesy: Inquirer News
04 March, 2010
The Head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Ellen Margrethe Loj on Wednesday stated that the incident that occurred in Lofa County over the weekend that led to the death of at least four persons and several others injured was based on unfounded rumors on the eve of the incident.She however pointed out that this incident shows a clear indication that there are still challenges in Liberia and more needs to be done in building confidence among Liberians in every sector of the country.The Mission boss who spoke in Monrovia on the outburst of violence in Voinjama, Lofa County called on Liberians to be careful on believing rumors. Read detail
Calling Attention to Daily Observer Biased Reports on the Violence in Lofa
By Nvasekie N. Konneh
02 March, 2010
The recent violence in Lofa County that has claimed the lives of four persons and scores of others wounded is a tragedy that saddens the hearts of all peace loving Liberians. For fourteen long years our country didn’t know peace. Now that the war is over it is all of us desire to see Liberia moving forward with the war becoming a history. This time around we should be concentrating on peace, reconciliation, and development. While certainly this is what all peace loving Liberians desire, we were rudely awakened by the reports of current violent episode in Lofa County. Read detail
An Open Letter to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
By: Bangalee Trawally
01 March, 2010

Dear Madam President:

I have the honor of writing to you to express my concern about the seriousness of the land dispute in Ganta, Nimba County, which developed as a result of Liberia’s civil war. This issue has the potential of compromising your administration’s drive for peace, justice, and good governance. Read detail
Islamic Prosperity Mosque Dedicated in Jacob’s Town
Courtesy: Public Agenda News
27 February,2010
The Muslims in Jacob Town who constructed for the community a new Mosque, have now officially dedicated the building to the service of the one true God of the universe. During the occasion on Friday February 19, 2010, several Muslims from other parts of the city joined their colleagues, assembled at the mosque and listened to the sermon delivered by the Imam on that auspicious occasion. Among those who graced the comprised both the prominent and ordinary people within the Muslim community. Read detail
An Open Letter to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
President of the Republic of Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia
February 26, 2010
Dear Madam President:
I have the honor of writing to you to express my concern about the seriousness of the land dispute in Ganta, Nimba County, which developed as a result of Liberia’s civil war. This issue has the potential of compromising your administration’s drive for peace, justice, and good governance. This is especially true in view of the lack of meaningful progress on the part of your administration toward protecting the rights of the Mandingo people, who are the victims in an illegal and unacceptable appropriation of lands and houses by people who have no legal claims to them whatsoever. It is imperative that those properties be returned to their rightful owners. Read detail
A.B. Kromah On Anti-Corruption Strategy
Courtesy: Inquirer
25 February, 2010
Former Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) Chief of Staff Mr. Abraham Kromah who has been studying in the United States says he is in the country with an anti-corruption agenda. Mr. Kromah who is on a visit said he intends to meet with functionaries of government responsible for anti-corruption activities. “I intend to meet LACC to push those strategies that would encourage zero tolerance for corruption,” Mr. Kromah said. Mr. Kromah in an INQUIRER interview said there must be a practical stance against corruption if the nation's resources are to benefit all and not a privileged few. Read detail
Nimba Land Crisis Deepens, Squatters Defy Court Ruling
Courtesy: Public Agenda News
24 February, 2010

Despite government order for squatters to vacate properties belonging to some members of the Mandingoe ethnic group in certain parts of Nimba County, the squatters remain adamant even in the face of court ruling. But owners of the premises have threatened to take the law into their own hands if government refuses to repossess their properties. Read detail
Former Liberian Warring Faction Leader Goes Before a U.S. Judge Wednesday
Courtesy: VOA
23 February, 2010
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ha said it will not allow the United States to be a safe haven for those trying to evade prosecution and punishment for crimes committed in their homelands.
The warning comes as former Liberian warring faction leader George Boley goes before an immigration judge tomorrow (Wednesday) in Buffalo, New York. Read detail
Ivory Coast Without Government for a Week, Tensions Mount
Courtesy: VOA
21 February, 2010
Ivorians continue to wait for Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to announce a new government, as violence and political unrest mount in the country's interior.

Ivory Coast has been without a government for a week now, since President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved it and the independent electoral commission last Friday, further deepening a political crisis over alleged fraud in the country's voter list.Mr. Gbagbo had accused the electoral commission of approving a voter list containing almost half a million foreigners. Read detail
FALMD Fetes and Certificates UL Graduates & Community Organizer
20 February, 2010
Monrovia……January 10, 2010…The Forum for the Advancement of Liberian Mandingoes & Their Descendants has held an elaborate certification program for seven (7) of its members who recently graduated from the University of Liberia in various discipline ranging from Economics to Political Science as well as a community organizer Read detail
Muslim Youths Assure Liberians
19 February, 2010
The World Association of Muslim Youths has promised to assist in Liberia's reconstruction effort following years of civil conflict. The organization says after years of war, it was ready to help Liberian Muslims in contributing meaningfully to the country's human resource development in a bid to achieve the total reconstruction of the country. Read detail
Niger soldiers seize power, topple president
19 February, 2010

More Protests Break Out in Ivory Coast
Courtesy: VOA
18 February, 2010
More protests have broken out in Ivory Coast against the president's dismissal of the government.
Demonstrators set fire to a city bus in the main city of Abidjan Wednesday, while hundreds of people marched in towns around the country. Opposition groups had called for street protests after President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the cabinet and electoral commission last Friday.
The dismissals are likely to delay a presidential election that has already been postponed six times since Mr. Gbagbo's mandate ran out in 2005. Read detail
The Gambia expels Unicef chief Min Whee-Kang
Courtesy: BBC
17 February, 2010
The Gambia has expelled the envoy of the UN's children charity, Unicef.
The organisation said officials gave Min Whee-Kang 24 hours to leave the country, and reports suggested she had left overland to neighbouring Senegal.
There was no immediate official explanation but correspondents say The Gambia has been increasingly criticised over its human rights record. President Yahya Jammeh, who seized power in a bloodless coup 1994, tolerates little dissent. Read detail
Another Minister Resigns from President Sirleaf's Cabinet
Courtesy: VOA
16 February, 2010
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has accepted the resignation of Internal Affairs Minister A.B. Johnson, a close relative of the president.

Cyrus Badio, press secretary to President Sirleaf said Minister Johnson was asked to resign because he breached procurement
procedures. “Minister Johnson fell short in the implementation of the rules governing the administration of the Social Development Fund, a special fund set up by government to support communities where companies like Arcelor Mittal are operating. And there are set guidelines which have been put in place to govern the administration of that special fund. Read detail
President Jammeh resumes controversial HIV/AIDS treatment programme
Courtesy: Gambian News
15 February, 2010
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has resumed his controver sial Presidential Treatment Programme with a batch of 352 patients suffering from different ailments, ranging from HIV/AIDS, asthma and hypertension, PANA reported from here Friday. According to sources, Jammeh has retreated to his native village of Kanilai, some 120 kilometres south/east of Banjul capital, where he runs a clinic for the traditional herbal treatment programme.
The batch, consisting of 48 HIV/AIDS patients, 147 asthmatic and 157 hypertensive patients, have started taking the controversial medicine, which is largely based on herbal concoction and incantation since 11 February. Read detail
Ivory Coast President Gbagbo dissolves government
Courtesy: BBC
13 February, 2010
Ivory Coast's President Laurent Gbagbo has dissolved the government and electoral commission, casting doubt on when long-delayed elections will occur.
Prime Minister Guillaume Soro has been asked to form a new government.
Mr Gbagbo had accused the electoral commission of registering more than 400,000 people who were not eligible to vote because they were foreigners. The opposition says most of the people were from ethnic groups in the north, who were unlikely to support Mr Gbagbo. Read detail
Ganta Youth Plan Peaceful Demonstration if…
Courtesy: Inquirer News
11 February, 2010
Reports reaching this paper suggest that some youth of Ganta Nimba County are said to be planning a peaceful demonstration in that part of the country if nothing is done to reclaim their property. One of the youth Mr. Sekou Donzo told this paper over the weekend that they have waited for too long following several decision reached by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Office of the City Mayor of Ganta in 2008 to reclaim their properties. Read detail