Africa
Electricity crisis forces Energy minister to resign
Electricity crisis forces Energy minister to resign
Following weeks of disruption, electricity supply has been finally restored in most cities across Sierra Leone after a part payment was made for the $48m (£38m) utility bill it owed to a Turkish company, Karpowership.
The payment of the sum of $18m comes as the country’s energy minister, Kanja Sesay announced his exit from government, saying he took full responsibility for the crisis.
Most electricity supplies to the capital, Freetown, is generated from a Turkish ship floating off the country’s coast.
Last week, Karpowership said it had severely cut supplies to the city, from 60 megawatts to 6 megawatt, citing backlog of unpaid bills.
Residents of the country’s main cities have been going for days on end without any power and hospitals have also been affected.
READ ALSO:
- Why I broke down in tears – Saudi Arabia maid impregnated by boss narrates ordeal
- BREAKING: Popular Gospel singer Morenikeji ‘Egbin Orun’ is dead
- Two arrested for torturing 60-year-old man to death in Anambra
At least one infant has died because of a lack of power, while medics have been using mobile phones to provide light as they carry out procedures, Reuters news agency quotes a doctor as saying.
“How do you iron your clothes, how do you make your food, how do you go to sleep? We pay our electricity bills so I don’t see why we should be forced to live like this,” BBC quoted a second-year engineering student in Freetown, Fatmata Gassim as saying.
Following the resignation of Sesay, the office of President Julius Maada Bio said the energy ministry would now fall under the direct supervision of the president.
Karpowership previously cut supplies to Sierra Leone in September over unpaid bills.
It is one of the world’s biggest floating power plant operators, with several African states relying on it for electricity.
In October, it briefly cut power to Guinea-Bissau, saying it had no option “following a protracted period of non-payment”.
Electricity crisis forces Energy minister to resign
Africa
Boyfriend of murdered Kenyan journalist arrested
Boyfriend of murdered Kenyan journalist arrested
Africa
Baltasar Engonga: I dated him for four years, lady says, sues for betrayal
Baltasar Engonga: I dated him for four years, lady says, sues for betrayal
Cristel Nchama, one of the women appearing in viral explicit videos allegedly involving Baltasar Engonga, the former director-general of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), has filed a formal complaint with the National Gendarmerie in Malabo.
Engonga has been the focus of intense public scrutiny after investigators, probing allegations of fraud, searched his home and office and reportedly uncovered approximately 400 explicit videos featuring him with multiple women.
The tapes allegedly show Baltasar Engonga with his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the country’s president, the wife of the director-general of police, and around 20 wives of ministers, among others.
The recordings, which have since gone viral, are said to have taken place in Engonga’s office, hotels, and bathrooms, purportedly with the consent of those involved.
READ ALSO:
- Biden, Trump set for rare direct encounter at White House this week
- Why I married my husband – Mercy Aigbe
- Police helpless as many killed in Edo cultists frequent clashes
In her complaint, Nchama disclosed that she had been in a four-year relationship with Engonga and expressed profound distress over the public leak of the videos, which she says has harmed her reputation.
Nchama claimed that Engonga “misled” her into trusting him and that she had initially resisted being filmed, under the impression that any recordings would be deleted.
She also claimed to have been “betrayed” by Bello for publishing the videos.
“I am humiliated,” she stated. “It is my reputation, my honour. I want to know where these images came from and why he kept the images.”
In addition to filing her complaint, Nchama has demanded reparations from Engonga for the damage caused to her reputation and personal dignity.
Following the scandal, the government dismissed Engonga from his position at ANIF on Thursday.
Officials also announced the suspension of various public officials allegedly involved in sexual activities within government offices.
Baltasar Engonga: I dated him for four years, lady says, sues for betrayal
Africa
Baltasar Engonga: Equatorial Guinea appoints new anti-graft agency boss
Baltasar Engonga: Equatorial Guinea appoints new anti-graft agency boss
Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has appointed Zenón Obiang Obiang Avomo as the new Director General of the National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF), succeeding Baltasar Ebang Engonga, who was removed amid sex scandal.
Recall that Engonga was dismissed following accusations of “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions,” along with inappropriate family and social behavior unfit for public office, as stated in Decree No. 118/2024, dated November 4.
The investigation uncovered over 400 video recordings in Engonga’s office, reportedly involving the wives and relatives of high-ranking officials, including ministers and police officers.
READ ALSO:
- Viral video: Abuja Bolt driver apologizes to Rep. Ikwechegh over altercation
- Israel sends rescue planes to Amsterdam after football fans attack
- Domiciliary accounts: CBN grants banks approval to trade idle FX deposits
The shocking discovery triggered widespread public outrage and prompted swift action by the government.
In response, the Equatorial Guinean government has mandated the installation of surveillance cameras across all state offices, aiming to monitor officials’ conduct and deter future misconduct.
Zenón Obiang Obiang Avomo, who steps into the role at ANIF is a graduate of the National University of Equatorial Guinea, Avomo and has held key positions, including Magistrate Judge in Malabo, Director General of Contract Studies and State Markets at the Ministry of Finance, and Secretary General for both the Ministry of Finance, Economy and Planning, and the Ministry of Mines, Industry, and Energy.
Baltasar Engonga: Equatorial Guinea appoints new anti-graft agency boss
-
Auto3 days agoToyota by CFAO surprises customers with free Hilux, motorcycles, all-expense-paid trip to Seychelles
-
International2 days agoBelgium University offers scholarship up to €12,000 for Master’s students
-
Railway2 days agoNigerian railway adds extra train to Friday, Saturday trips on Lagos-Ibadan route
-
International2 days agoUK announces 45,000 seasonal worker visas for 2025
-
Business2 days agoFinally, marketers, Dangote refinery agree on direct fuel supply
-
International2 days agoSaudi crown prince says Israel committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza
-
Business3 days agoCement price surges by 100% to N8,800 in one year
-
Politics3 days agoAfenifere, Council of Obas back Aiyedatiwa for Ondo gov