Sierra Leone pastor finds huge diamond in Kono
Thursday, March 16, 2017
The diamond, weighing 709 carats, is now locked up in Sierra Leone's central bank in Freetown. It is one of the 20 largest diamonds ever found.
Freelance, or artisanal, miners are common in Sierra Leone's diamond-rich areas, reports the BBC's Umaru Fofana.
For years, we have rightly celebrated our world-class HIV response. The PMTCT programme has been its crown jewel, ensuring HIV-positive mothers could safely nurture their newborns without fear of transmission. Now, a leaked memo exposes a terrifying reality that the lifeline has been frayed to breaking point. A key warehouse in Francistown stands empty, and access is being rationed. Official reassurances about expected consignments ring hollow to...