The Guild of Newspaper Editors (GoN-SL) has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as the persistent misuse of the Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021 by law enforcement authorities to harass and intimidate journalists in Sierra Leone.
In a statement released today, the Guild expressed “deep concern and outright condemnation” of recent incidents in which journalists were subjected to intimidation under the guise of enforcing the cyber law, which was originally passed to regulate online crimes and enhance digital security.
Central to the Guild’s concern is the case of Thomas Dixon, Chairman of the Guild and Managing Editor of the New Age Newspaper, who was recently summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over a news alert he published. According to the Guild, Dixon endured eight hours of interrogation during which he faced threats of detention- an action the editors argue falls well outside the scope of the cyber law.
“This is nothing short of a reincarnation of Part 5 of the 1965 Public Order Act, which criminalized free speech,” Dixon said after his ordeal. “Today it is Thomas Dixon, but tomorrow it could be another journalist.”
The Guild also highlighted the case of Sahr Matturi, a senior journalist with the Standard Times Newspaper, who was detained on allegations of cyberbullying and cyberstalking. He was released on August 28, but his arrest, the Guild said, reflects a growing pattern of arbitrary arrests and selective enforcement of the law to suppress critical reporting.
The statement further revealed that during Dixon’s interrogation, threats were made against the online platform of the Gleaner Newspaper, heightening concerns that the Cybersecurity Act is being selectively weaponized against independent media outlets.
The Guild stressed that if a journalist errs online, there are already established mechanisms for redress, including the Independent Media Commission (IMC) and civil remedies under libel law. Using the cyber law as a tool of intimidation, it warned, constitutes an abuse of power and undermines democratic governance.
In its call to action, the Guild urged:
• The Government of Sierra Leone to ensure the law is applied strictly within its intended legal framework and not as a substitute for criminalizing journalism.
• The Sierra Leone Police to end practices that intimidate journalists and instead respect constitutional protections of free speech.
• The international community, civil society, and press freedom advocates to take note of the “disturbing developments” and stand in solidarity with journalists in Sierra Leone.
“The Guild of Newspaper Editors remains committed to defending press freedom, accountability, and the rule of law,” said Ishmail Saidu Kanu, Esq., Secretary General of GoN-SL. “We will resist any attempt to roll back the hard-won gains made after the repeal of criminal libel in Sierra Leone.”
