Editor's Pick
Sierra Leone’s Ambitious Push for Rice Independence

In Sierra Leone, rice holds a cultural significance that borders on the sacred. It’s a staple so vital that meals without it are often dismissed as incomplete. Yet, as prices surge, many families are forced to make agonizing trade-offs, giving up other essentials just to afford a plate of rice.
This struggle is emblematic of a deeper crisis. The United Nations’ World Food Program reports that 83% of Sierra Leone’s population is food insecure, a reality exacerbated by the nation’s heavy reliance on rice imports. This dependency, which supplies 35% of Sierra Leone’s rice and drains $200 million annually in foreign currency, has become a flashpoint for government intervention.
President Julius Bio and Agriculture Minister Henry Kpaka Musa have unveiled a sweeping vision to achieve rice self-sufficiency, raising over $620 million from international development banks this year to kickstart the initiative. The plan aims to modernize agriculture by improving roads to connect rice-growing regions with markets, creating large-scale irrigated land, and providing fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides to smallholder farmers.
“This is about laying the foundation,” Kpaka said. “Infrastructure is the key to attracting private sector investment and incentivizing farmers to grow more.”
The initiative has garnered praise from experts, with the Ivory Coast-based Africa Rice research center calling it “ambitious and forward-looking.” However, critics warn of potential pitfalls, pointing to failed attempts at food self-sufficiency in other West African nations such as Ghana and Burkina Faso.
Sierra Leone’s dependency on imports has roots in structural shifts dating back decades. In the 1980s, international lenders, including the International Monetary Fund, pushed the country to reduce agricultural investment in favor of opening markets to cheaper imports, according to Kpaka.
“We used to export rice,” the minister lamented. “Now we import it.”
Despite having one of the region’s most favorable climates for rice cultivation, with abundant rainfall and fertile lands, Sierra Leone has struggled with challenges such as inadequate roads, unreliable electricity, and limited access to financing for farmers. Climate change has further complicated efforts, with erratic weather patterns threatening yields.
In Bo district, a key rice-growing region, smallholder farmers gathered to share their concerns. Among the challenges they cited were a lack of access to land, storage facilities, and modern tools. But one issue stood out: the shortage of labor.
The rural-to-urban migration of young people seeking jobs in cities has left farming communities struggling to find workers. For those who remain, clearing vegetation and digging irrigation channels is backbreaking work.
“Without labor, the fields remain uncultivated,” said Eric Amara Manyeh, a village chief and farmer. While some farmers have formed cooperatives to share labor, progress is slow and costly.
The skepticism among smallholders is palpable. Many feel sidelined by government programs they see as favoring large-scale agribusiness over the needs of the country’s 5 million smallholder farms, which account for 70% of the population.
“We’ve heard these promises before,” Manyeh said, gesturing toward an uncultivated swamp that could one day become part of the government’s grand plan.
Central to the government’s strategy is replicating elements of Asia’s Green Revolution, which doubled rice production in two decades through the use of chemical fertilizers, modern seeds, and pesticides.
But critics warn that this approach could deepen farmers’ dependence on international agribusiness giants. Hybrid seeds, for instance, must be purchased anew each year, as they are patented and cannot be replanted. Fertilizers and pesticides, often imported from Europe and North America, come with high costs and environmental concerns.
Klara Fischer, a rural development professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, cautioned that Sierra Leone’s context differs sharply from Asia’s. “Cheap family labor was abundant in Asia during the Green Revolution. That’s not the case in Sierra Leone, where rural exodus is a major issue,” she said.
Environmental advocates like Joseph Randall, director of the NGO Green Scenery, argue that the government should focus on empowering smallholder farmers through sustainable practices. Randall advocates for organic compost as an alternative to chemical fertilizers, which he says contribute to global warming and leave farmers vulnerable to debt.
“It’s not just about increasing yields,” Randall said. “It’s about creating a system that’s resilient and works for the farmers themselves.”
Kpaka remains optimistic, insisting that investments in critical infrastructure will unlock the country’s agricultural potential. Improved roads, he believes, will connect farmers to markets and transform subsistence farming into a profitable enterprise.
But on the ground, farmers like Manyeh temper their hope with caution. “The willingness is there, the potential is there,” he said, as thunder rolled over his rice fields. “But it takes more than potential to feed a nation.”
Sierra Leone’s path to rice self-sufficiency is fraught with challenges, from the logistical to the systemic. Yet, the stakes could not be higher. For a nation where rice is more than a meal—it’s a way of life—achieving independence in its production could redefine not just agriculture, but Sierra Leone’s sense of sovereignty and resilience.
Editor's Pick
Panic in Mogadishu: Somalia Begs Elon Musk to Block Somaliland Recognition

Somali regime scrambles to sabotage Somaliland’s U.S. recognition push by lobbying Elon Musk, Christian right, and MAGA allies
As Somaliland inches closer to U.S. recognition, Mogadishu turns to Elon Musk and Trump-aligned networks in a desperate bid to block diplomatic momentum and silence Somaliland’s rise.
Desperation in Mogadishu: Somalia Turns to Elon Musk and MAGA Allies to Derail Somaliland Recognition
Somalia’s government has reportedly reached out to tech titan Elon Musk and far-right Christian groups in a frantic bid to stop the United States from recognizing the Republic of Somaliland.
According to a bombshell report by The Africa Report, the Somali government is launching an aggressive influence campaign to sabotage Somaliland’s path to international legitimacy—particularly among U.S. Republicans aligned with Donald Trump. With whispers that Trump’s second-term foreign policy may shift dramatically in favor of Somaliland, Mogadishu is pulling every lever it can find—including religious lobbies and Silicon Valley billionaires.
The plea to Musk, though not officially confirmed, underscores how far the Somali government is willing to go. But this isn’t just about one man. It’s a full-blown anti-recognition operation, complete with hired firms and whisper campaigns to derail bipartisan support for Somaliland’s case in Washington.
Why the panic? Because Somaliland is gaining serious traction among Trump-aligned conservatives who see it as a rare gem in the Horn of Africa—a democratic, stable, pro-American entity surrounded by chaos. It offers strategic access to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean and a partnership that’s not hostage to terrorism, piracy, or internal collapse.
Reports from Semafor and Reuters confirm that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has even proposed that his government take over Berbera and Bosaso ports—an audacious bid to undercut Somaliland’s economic autonomy and kill its chances of being seen as self-sufficient.
Mogadishu’s own ambassador to the U.S. admitted the threat openly: recognition of Somaliland, he said, would “damage relations” with Washington. But the real damage lies in Somalia’s failure to offer peace, unity, or even basic governance—while Somaliland has functioned independently for over three decades.
With Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aden landing in Washington this week, the stakes are sky-high. Mogadishu is rattled. Trump allies in Congress are rallying. And Somaliland’s case, long ignored, is now center stage in a geopolitical battle that could redefine U.S. influence in East Africa.
One thing is clear: Somalia isn’t just losing control of the narrative—it’s losing the region’s future. And no billionaire intervention will stop the inevitable tide of Somaliland’s rising recognition.
Commentary
China’s Space Grab in Africa: How Beijing Is Winning the Final Frontier as Trump Slashes U.S. Aid

While Trump retreats, China plants its flag in Africa’s skies—building satellites, telescopes, and alliances to dominate space and surveillance.
As Trump guts foreign aid, China ramps up space partnerships across Africa, embedding surveillance tech and satellites that could shift the balance in the global space race—and military power.
Space for Sale: How China Is Colonizing Africa’s Skies as America Pulls Back
While the United States under President Trump slashes development aid and scales down soft power, China is quietly launching a space takeover in Africa—one satellite, telescope, and military-grade surveillance system at a time.
From a space lab outside Cairo to high-powered telescopes tracking orbital objects from Egyptian hilltops, China is embedding itself deep into Africa’s burgeoning space infrastructure. Beneath the banner of cooperation and development, Beijing is not just gifting technology—it’s harvesting data, expanding its global surveillance network, and establishing a strategic military and political footprint across the continent.
This is no secret to Washington. Intelligence veterans like Nicholas Eftimiades warn that China is “democratizing space to enhance its authoritarian capabilities”—a global dragnet cloaked in diplomacy. And it’s working. More than 23 African nations now partner with China on space ventures, from satellite launches and ground stations to a proposed joint moon base that openly rivals NASA’s Artemis program.
The Space City outside Cairo, where Chinese engineers outnumber locals, is emblematic. The “African-built” satellites launched there? Mostly assembled in China. Data ownership? Officially Egyptian—but insiders say Beijing still taps into the stream. It’s not just soft power—it’s hardware dominance with military consequences, including anti-satellite warfare readiness and real-time surveillance of joint U.S.-Egyptian exercises.
As China builds eyes in the sky, Trump’s America is going dark—cutting U.S. Agency for International Development funds and retreating from space diplomacy. Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Elon Musk races ahead in military-grade satellite networks, but there’s little sign of the U.S. competing with China’s ground-level infiltration across Africa.
The result? A Cold War-style showdown in orbit, with Africa as the battlefield—and Trump’s retreat from development aid and soft power may have handed Beijing the launch codes for a new global order in space.
China isn’t just investing in Africa—it’s outsourcing its space program onto the continent, collecting data, projecting power, and rewriting the rules of 21st-century dominance. The moon may be next, but the race is already raging here on Earth. And right now, Beijing is winning.
Editor's Pick
MI5 Unmasks the Real James Bonds: Secrets, Spies, and Soviet Moles Revealed in London Exhibition

British spy agency MI5 lifts the curtain on its shadowy past, revealing gadgets, double agents, and Cold War betrayals in a rare public display.
Real Spies, Real Secrets: MI5’s Exhibition Reveals the Truth Behind Britain’s Espionage Legends
Move over, James Bond—the real spies of British intelligence have entered the room. For the first time in its 115-year history, MI5 is peeling back the layers of secrecy with a public exhibition that dives deep into its murky archives and infamous operations.
Titled “MI5: Official Secrets”, the new exhibition at The National Archives in London offers a rare glimpse into the real-world tradecraft of British intelligence. From lemon juice invisible ink to surveillance files on Soviet moles, the exhibit pulls no punches in showing how Britain’s security service battled foreign threats across two world wars and the Cold War.
One of the most jaw-dropping features? Newly released materials on the Cambridge Five—a ring of elite British insiders who betrayed their country by feeding secrets to Moscow. Their names—Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, Donald Maclean, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross—still send shivers through British intelligence circles, and their confessions, reports, and surveillance records are now on public display.
Ken McCallum, MI5’s director general, stressed that unlike the glamorous espionage of Bond or the grit of Slow Horses, real spy work is “ordinary people doing extraordinary things” in silence. Still, the lemon juice used by a German spy to write invisible messages during WWI? That feels very 007.
The exhibition runs through September and is designed to both educate and provoke reflection. In a world once split by East and West—and now again fractured by new threats—MI5’s unveiling of its past is not just history. It’s a subtle message: the spy game is far from over.
Editor's Pick
Trump Locks In $2B Drone Deal With Qatar, Signaling a New Power Shift in the Middle East

First-of-its-kind drone sale to Doha bolsters U.S. military ties with Qatar and reshapes Gulf defense dynamics.
This isn’t just a weapons sale—it’s a strategic realignment. President Donald Trump’s approval of an unprecedented $1.96 billion arms deal with Qatar isn’t about just eight MQ-9B drones. It’s about staking out a new American red line in the Middle East. And it’s about power—airborne, unmanned, and armed to the teeth.
Qatar, long the shadowy broker in conflicts from Gaza to Kabul, is now becoming a front-row actor. With this deal, Trump is transforming Doha from a diplomatic fixer to a drone-powered sentinel capable of conducting advanced surveillance, target acquisition, and strike operations. The sale signals the first time such high-end American drones are making their way to any country in the region—a slap in the face to traditional allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE who’ve been denied access.
At the heart of this is Al Udeid Air Base, America’s largest military base in the Middle East, which Qatar has pumped over $8 billion into since 2003. Trump knows leverage when he sees it. While some in Washington grumble about Qatar’s cozy ties to Hamas and Tehran, Trump sees utility. He doesn’t need moral purity—he needs strategic partners.
This drone deal is a down payment on that partnership. With Hellfire missiles, radar-jamming gear, and top-tier ISR tech, Qatar just became more than a gas-rich Gulf state. It’s now an elite drone hub that can pressure Iran, monitor the Houthis, and shape conflicts from Yemen to the Strait of Hormuz.
Critics will say it empowers a country that shelters Hamas leadership. Supporters will argue it gives the U.S. another heavily armed friend who can do the dirty work. Either way, this deal turns Qatar into a decisive power broker—and proves once again that Trump plays chess, while others are still learning checkers.
Editor's Pick
Eid Mubarak 2025: Global Celebrations Kick Off with Diverse Greetings Worldwide

Join the global celebration by learning how to wish a blessed Eid in different languages:
With the sighting of the new moon confirmed in Saudi Arabia and neighboring regions, Eid al-Fitr celebrations officially begin on Sunday, March 30, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Eid al-Fitr, known as the “festival of breaking the fast,” is celebrated joyously by nearly 1.9 billion Muslims globally, accounting for about 25 percent of the world’s population. Countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, home to some of the largest Muslim communities, are set to embrace this festive occasion with diverse customs and vibrant celebrations.
Traditionally, the Eid celebration lasts for three days in most Muslim-majority nations, with activities beginning just after dawn prayers and sermons. Families and friends gather to share meals, exchange sweets, and extend heartfelt greetings as they move from home to home.
The most widespread greetings are “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid) and “Eid Sa’id” (Happy Eid), but variations exist worldwide, reflecting the rich linguistic diversity among Muslim communities.
Join the global celebration by learning how to wish a blessed Eid in different languages:
- Arabic: Eid Mubarak (عيد مبارك)
- Indonesian: Selamat Idul Fitri
- Urdu (Pakistan): عید مبارک (Eid Mubarak)
- Hindi (India): ईद मुबारक (Eid Mubarak)
- Bengali (Bangladesh): ঈদ মোবারক (Eid Mubarak)
- Hausa (Nigeria): Barka da Sallah
- Turkish: Bayramınız mübarek olsun
- Persian (Iran): عید مبارک (Eid Mubarak)
- Malay (Malaysia): Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
- Somali: Ciid Wanaagsan
- Swahili (East Africa): Eid Njema
- French: Bonne fête de l’Aïd
- English: Eid Mubarak
Wishing everyone worldwide peace, joy, and prosperity this Eid. Eid Mubarak from waryatv.com!
Editor's Pick
J. Peter Pham: Somalia’s President Insults Trump by Offering Ports He Doesn’t Control

Ambassador J. Peter Pham, a prominent former US envoy to Africa and influential figure in President Trump’s circle, has openly mocked Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, calling his recent offer of Somaliland’s strategic ports to the US an outright insult and an act of utter foolishness.
Pham sharply criticized the Somali leader’s desperate bid, declaring on social media platform X, “Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thinks the Americans are fools, offering ports in Somaliland and Puntland—ports he has absolutely no control over.” Highlighting the absurdity of Mogadishu’s move, Pham underlined that the US provides Somalia with nearly $1 billion annually, money he described as being shamefully wasted.
According to Semafor newspaper, President Mohamud wrote directly to Trump, attempting to barter control over the strategic Berbera and Bosaso ports in return for Washington halting its recognition of Somaliland. However, these ports are firmly under Somaliland’s and Puntland’s jurisdiction, beyond Mogadishu’s reach—a fact the Somali president astonishingly disregarded.
Pham, a staunch advocate of Somaliland’s recognition, portrays this latest diplomatic blunder as proof of Mogadishu’s desperation, incompetence, and disregard for American intelligence. The move has sparked fury and disbelief within American political circles, particularly among Republicans actively campaigning for Somaliland’s recognition over the past two years.
Pham’s strong condemnation reinforces that Somaliland’s recognition campaign has significant momentum in the US, leaving Somalia’s desperate diplomatic tactics increasingly isolated. With influential figures like Pham openly ridiculing Hassan Sheikh’s miscalculations, it becomes clearer that Somaliland stands poised for a historic diplomatic breakthrough, while Somalia flounders amid strategic missteps and political humiliation.
Waryatv.com readers should take note: Somalia’s diplomatic folly has inadvertently boosted Somaliland’s credibility on the global stage, marking a turning point that could reshape the Horn of Africa’s future.
Commentary
Algeria Jails French-Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal, Igniting New Tensions with France

Boualem Sansal sentenced to five years under anti-terrorism laws after questioning Algeria-Morocco borders, drawing fierce criticism from France.
Renowned French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has been sentenced to five years in prison by an Algerian court under contentious “anti-terrorism” laws, further inflaming diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France. Sansal, an outspoken critic of the Algerian government, was charged with “undermining national unity” after remarks he made questioning colonial-era border divisions with regional rival Morocco.
The verdict, delivered on Thursday in Dar El Beida near Algiers, stemmed from an interview Sansal gave to French far-right outlet Frontieres last October. Sansal argued that France had unfairly redrawn Algeria’s borders during colonial times, incorporating Moroccan territory—remarks seen as incendiary by Algerian authorities.
French President Emmanuel Macron swiftly condemned the decision, publicly appealing to Algeria’s sense of “good sense and humanity,” citing Sansal’s reported battle with cancer. The imprisonment of the celebrated author, winner of the 2011 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, has added fuel to already strained Franco-Algerian relations, following France’s recent diplomatic shift to support Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Sansal, who represented himself in court, denied that his comments violated Algerian law or intended harm to national unity. Legal experts suggest his sentence, half of what prosecutors initially sought, still reflects severe judicial overreach and may serve as political leverage amid Algeria’s diplomatic feud with France.
Human rights advocates warn that Algeria continues to misuse stringent anti-terrorism laws to silence critical voices, raising fears over the broader implications for freedom of speech. As international pressure mounts, speculation grows that Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune could grant Sansal a presidential pardon during an upcoming national holiday, attempting to defuse escalating tensions with Paris.
Editor's Pick
Captive German Nurse Makes Desperate Plea After 7-Year Somalia Ordeal

Sonja Nientiet urges swift German government intervention, warning her health is critically deteriorating after seven years in captivity.
In a new video released after seven agonizing years of captivity in Somalia, German nurse Sonja Nientiet has urgently pleaded for the German government to intensify efforts to secure her immediate release. Nientiet, who was abducted in Mogadishu in 2018 while working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), expressed dire concerns about her rapidly deteriorating health.
“My health is deteriorating,” Nientiet says emotionally in the video, posted by an individual named Liibaan Osman. She urgently warns that “every day that passes makes the situation more critical,” emphasizing that her prolonged captivity could soon claim her life.
Nientiet was kidnapped on May 2, 2018, after armed assailants—allegedly with inside help from a disgruntled security guard—stormed the ICRC office in Mogadishu. Despite intensive German intelligence efforts to track down her location and captors, who have demanded millions of dollars in ransom, the nurse remains captive and vulnerable.
The release of this disturbing footage has intensified pressure on the German government to secure Nientiet’s freedom. Yet, authorities have publicly maintained their longstanding policy of silence on hostage negotiations, declining direct comment.
Before her abduction, Nientiet had provided humanitarian assistance in Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting her commitment to aid in conflict zones. The ICRC expressed renewed urgency following the video, stating deep concern for her safety and health.
With her desperate plea now public, the stakes for Germany have dramatically increased, shifting the crisis into an urgent test of diplomatic resolve—one where each passing day could tragically mark the difference between life and death.
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