Committee to Protect Journalists - Sierra Leone

Journalists assaulted, equipment seized in Sierra Leone

2012-08-07T21:09:50Z

Lagos, Nigeria, August 7, 2012--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns an attack on two journalists by soldiers in Sierra Leone and calls on authorities to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Radio station attacked, vandalized in Sierra Leone

2012-08-01T20:40:38Z

Radio Gbafth, an independent community radio station in Tonkolili district, was attacked by supporters of a local politician on July 19, 2012, according to local journalists and the Media Foundation of West Africa, a Ghana-based press freedom organization. The politician, John Raka Conteh, also known as Potas, had been invited as a panelist on one of the station's programs to discuss the postponement of the local election, the reports said.

Sierra Leone journalist murdered; suspects in custody

2011-06-15T21:26:59Z

New York, June 15, 2011--Police in Sierra Leone have arrested three suspects, including a police officer, for the killing of a reporter this Sunday during violent clashes over a land dispute on the outskirts of the capital, Freetown, according to local journalists.

Ibrahim Foday, 38, a reporter at the private daily newspaper The Exclusive, was beaten and stabbed by assailants during an outbreak of violence between neighboring villages Kossoh and Grafton, 16 miles (25 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Freetown, according to Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ). Foday, a resident of Grafton, was attacked for taking photographs of Kossoh rioters.

Attacks on the Press 2009: Africa Developments

2010-02-16T05:02:50Z

Attacks on the Press in 2008: Africa Developments

2009-02-10T05:53:00Z

Media advocacy group receives death threats in Sierra Leone

2008-10-18T00:30:36Z

New York, October 17, 2008--The director and a staff member of the Society for Democratic Initiatives (SDI), a Sierra Leone media advocacy group, say they are receiving death threats after publishing a report on press conditions late last month.

Opposition Radio ordered shut down

2008-05-08T16:00:00Z

MAY 8, 2008

Posted June 6, 2008

Unity Radio
CENSORED

On May 8, 2008, the opposition-run Unity Radio station in Freetown was ordered shut down by the presidential press secretary, Sheka Tarawalie. Tarawalie said the station had installed an antenna that exceeded frequency regulations and was interfering with the airwaves of other radio stations. The station, however, was legally registered, and had not been banned from broadcasting by the Independent Media Commission.

CPJ Impact

2008-05-01T06:00:55Z

May 2008
News from the Committee to Protect Journalists

CPJ calls on Sierra Leone to decriminalize libel laws

2008-03-17T16:00:00Z

March 17, 2008

President Ernest Bai Koroma
c/o The Embassy of Sierra Leone to the United States
1701, 19th St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20009

Via fascimile: (202) 483-1793

Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to express our grave concern about the recent arrest of an editor and a publisher under criminal libel laws, despite your pledges to decriminalize libel cases in Sierra Leone.

Editor detained under defamation law

2008-02-11T17:00:00Z

Editor detained under defamation law

FEBRUARY 11, 2008Posted February 27, 2008
Jonathan Leigh, The Independent Observer
HARASSED

Freetown police arrested and detained the managing editor of the private daily The Independent Observer on 15 February on criminal libel charges.

Attacks on the Press 2007: Africa Analysis

2008-02-05T17:10:00Z

When Press Freedom and Democracy Are Out of Step

By Tom Rhodes

Ballots may have replaced bullets in much of Africa since the dawn of this new century, but one of the great political ironies for at least part of the continent has been a loss of press freedom following the voting. Leaders in a large swath of sub-Saharan Africa have drawn approving nods from Western politicians for holding sometimes unprecedented elections. Three such countries are the Gambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Ethiopia. All have democratically elected presidents and Western support. Yet between them they hold the unenviable record of placing at or near the top of CPJ's 2007 list of the world's worst backsliders on press freedom.

Attacks on the Press 2007: Africa Snapshots

2008-02-05T16:59:20Z

Attacks & developments throughout the region

SIERRA LEONE: Government drops criminal libel charges against editor

2007-08-21T16:00:00Z

UPDATE

August 21, 2007
Original Alert: July 3, 2007
Philip Neville, The Standard Times

Harsh bail set for Standard Times editor

2007-07-03T16:00:00Z

New York, July 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the criminal prosecution and unreasonable bail conditions facing Sierra Leonean journalist Philip Neville, the editor of The Standard Times who is being held at the Central Prison in Freetown on libel charges.

Defense lawyer J.B. Jenkins Johnston told CPJ that a Freetown court set bail on Monday at 200 million leones (US$68,135), required three sureties as security, and demanded a series of personal documents such as utility bills and rental statements. Johnston, who said he would appeal the bail conditions, said the bail was highest he'd ever encountered for this type of case.

Attacks on the Press 2006: Africa Snapshots

2007-02-05T16:46:58Z

Attacks & developments throughout the region