Sierra Leone enacted its criminal libel, seditious and public order laws (Part V) in 2020. Since then, press freedom has been expanding throughout the country, with the progress story punctuated in part by improvements in legal environment, the development of watchdog institutions for press freedom, and the consolidation of these institutions’ architectures.
All of these positives were possible because of the excellent cooperation between government officials and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, a trade union of journalists in Sierra Leone.
However, there still remain troubling chapters in the story – physical attacks, Threats, judicial harassment and summons, arrests, and detentions continue to happen in Sierra Leone. In addition, journalists are intimidated by government institutions.
Then, there is the issue of the country’s telecommunications lawStill, the authority is given to officials to revoke licenses of broadcast media houses at their discretion.
Two years after Sierra Leone’s criminal libel law was repealed, the state of press freedom is still a mixture of the good, bad, and the ugly.
The good
Executives from the SLAJ met on the 12th of Sept 2022. metWith the Minister of Information, and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swray in Brookfields, Freetown, we struck up a conversation that brought out many positives for press freedom.
Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, President SLAJ, cited as one of many good developments a fine relationship that SLAJ maintains with the government the repeal of criminal libel law in 2020. This achievement has served as a launchpad for other positives such as the hosting of a media viability and investment conference.
Nasralla reported on the conference that was funded through the BBC Media Action by the Government of Sierra Leone. It led to Sierra Leone being included in the International Fund for Public Interest Media’s (IFPIM) 17-country list.
In anticipation of the IFPIM’s windfall, Nasralla stated that SLAJ and other media stakeholders had been working with the Ministry of Information and Communications in order to create structures to manage and administrate the local counterpart of IFPIM to which the Government will also contribute funds.
He also said that a Multi Stakeholders Advisory Board as well as a Technical Working Group had been established in advance. He said that these groups will be responsible to implement and follow up on the other recommendations made at the historic media conference.
In addition, the government has provided an annual subvention to SLAJ in order to support the press association championing the cause of journalists in the country.
The Cyber Security and Crimes Act 2021 was probably the most important outcome of the cooperation between SLAJ and the government. This law governs the cyberspace of Sierra Leone and provides guidelines for online conduct.
The Government of Sierra Leone has also identified all critical national information infrastructures to be declared critical under a USD50 million World Bank grant. The Data Protection Bill is being introduced before Parliament. The government has also committed to supporting the SLAJ with state lands in order to construct a national office for the Association and satellite offices in the Eastern and Southern parts of the country.
SLAJ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the national security agency to commemorate the international Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. It was done following a round table dialogue about law and order. Sierra Leone also signed the Global Pledge on Media Freedom around the same time. It became the fifth country in Africa that has committed to the values and principles outlined by the Media Freedom Coalition.
In 2021, Sierra Leone’s ranking on the world press freedom index improved by ten places from 2020’s position of 85 out of 180 countries to 75 out of 180.
Despite the friendly relationship between government officials and SLAJ, there are still concerns.
The bad
Certain aspects of the Cyber Security and Crimes Act have the potential to infringe on citizens’ right to free expression, especially when online. Section 44 of the Act, in particular, contains numerous offenses that could be used unfairly against journalists.
Also, it has been of concern that media and civil society representatives are not included on the Advisory Council provided for in the Act.
But probably, the most problematic of the bad things conspiring against press freedom in Sierra Leone are the country’s telecommunications laws. Sections 30 to 65 of the laws allow the National Telecommunications Commission, the media regulator, the ability to suspend or cancel broadcast licences for various violations. The list of violations include fraud, treason, and, according to the law, “where the suspension or cancellation is in the public interest.” This particular part of the law is very worrying because it amounts to arming the authorities with power to close down stations at whim.
Also, Section 65 requires broadcasters to obtain “a general or specific license” to operate a radio transmitter. On the basis of this law, NATCOM suspended the licenses of privately owned broadcast networks Star Radio and Star TV for over two weeks in August, 2022 and denied workers access to the broadcaster’s transmitters in Brookfields, a neighborhood in western Freetown. This was due to the alleged nonrenewal broadcast licenses.
It is still a concern that the government has not passed a Data Protection law, which was long overdue following the passage of Cyber Security and Crime Act. A National Computer Security Incidence Response Coordination Center, which is supposed manage cyber security incidents, has yet to be established.
Despite the 2020 repealing of the criminal libel statute and a growingly cosy relationship between SLAJ and government, media practitioners still continue to be subject to arrests, detentions, and crude attacks in Sierra Leone.
The Ugly
Journalists continue being brutalized by all kinds of people, including security agents and private citizens. Journalists have also been subject to assault, battery, and even attempted murder.
Alusine Anntha, a journalist, was attacked by around 30 people in Waterloo on February 17, 2022 while covering a meeting regarding a land dispute.
A suspected assassination attempt was made against Gibril Gottor, a TV reporter. His home was set on fire with petrol in what appears like a plot to arson. It is believed that he was a target because of his investigation of sensitive issues, such as the alleged sexual assault of a minor by a cop officer and the extortion to fishermen by naval personnel.
Gibril received threats and several court summonses as part of his investigations. He was forced to leave his family because of the arson attempt.
Earlier, in April 2020, journalist Fayia Amara Fayia of the Standard Times newspaper, was attacked and beaten up by about 10 soldiers in Sierra Leone’s eastern Kenema city. He was kicked and hit with weapons according to a statement by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, a local press freedom group. Fayia’s phone was taken during the attack after he took a photograph of a COVID-19 quarantine centre. Later, Fayia would be charged with assaulting a soldier and District Chief Mohammed O. Sesay. He was also arraigned in court.
On July 2, 2022 four Sierra Leone soldiers slapped, punched, and kicked broadcast journalist Maada Jessie JengoHe slashed his face with sharp objects and he used his body parts to do so.
Meanwhile, the country’s media regulator, NATCOM, in August 2021, suspendedStar Radio and Star TV, private broadcast networks, were denied licenses due to alleged defaults in renewing broadcast licenses.
Salieu Tejan, the editor of The Times, was threatened with death by President Julius Maada Bio in October 2021 for his critical reporting. To escape the President, Mr. Tejan fled the country.
The rundown
Sierra Leone’s press freedom environment is definitely mixed. This means that while commendations are in order for the government, such commendations cannot be given without sadness.
To improve the situation, the government and stakeholders’ have their duties cut out for them. Attackers on journalists must be punished with more force. The government must reexamine the cyber law, which could lead to people being arrested for expressing themselves online. Sections 30 and 65 must be repealed in order to disarm NATCOM’s power to shut down broadcast stations.
SLAJ must use its cosy relationship to government to encourage government reforms. It should also organize public education campaigns to highlight the need for a free press in Sierra Leone. Media houses must ensure that their journalists are protected.
Source: mfwa.org
