SLAJ Rejects Allegations Against Journalists, Warns of Safety Risks

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has rejected allegations made by Sierra Leone People’s Party National Publicity Secretary Moses Sellu Mambu against journalists Victor Jones and Thomas Dixon.

In a press release dated October 28, SLAJ said its records contained no evidence that the two journalists had conspired to submit a false report against Mambu. The Association said it reviewed the available evidence, including a video recording of the broadcast where the remarks were reportedly made.

Complaint followed Liberty TV broadcast

SLAJ said it received a formal complaint from Victor Jones on October 21 concerning comments allegedly made by Mambu during Liberty TV’s Online Breakfast Show on October 19. The programme was hosted by Khadija Bangura and Mabel Kabba.

According to SLAJ’s account, Mambu reportedly accused Jones of pursuing an agenda against the SLPP and alleged that Jones and Dixon had conspired to submit a false report against him.

SLAJ Secretary-General Edward Fara Marrah later contacted Mambu to obtain his response. The Association said Mambu clarified that his remarks about an agenda against the SLPP referred to media houses rather than Jones personally. However, SLAJ said he maintained the allegation concerning the purported false report.

After reviewing the available information, the Association rejected the claim as unsupported by its records.

Warning over public accusations

SLAJ cautioned that public statements linking named journalists to hostility toward a ruling political party could damage their professional reputations and expose them to intimidation, harassment and threats to their personal safety.

The Association called on political leaders and party officials to exercise restraint when discussing journalists and to use constructive engagement and established complaint mechanisms to resolve media-related grievances.

SLAJ also urged Mambu to show greater responsibility in public communication and to respect the independence and professional role of journalists.

Alhaji Manika Kamara, the Association’s president, said journalists have a constitutional role in public life.

“Journalists have a constitutional responsibility to inform the public, scrutinize those in authority and hold power to account,” Kamara said.

SLAJ said it would continue defending press freedom and the rights, safety and professional dignity of journalists across Sierra Leone. Its position comes amid wider discussions on press freedom and journalist safety, including reported media stakeholder validation on October 23 of a proposed standalone constitutional chapter on press freedom.