Sierra Leone’s Counterterrorism Bill Raises Concerns Over Press Freedom

April 1, 2025

Sierra Leone’s parliament recently passed the proposed Counterterrorism Act, 2024, which is expected to be signed into law by President Julius Maada Bio. However, the bill has raised significant concerns from press freedom advocates.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on President Bio to reject the bill unless provisions that threaten press freedom are amended. CPJ’s Africa regional director, Angela Quintal, emphasized that while it is crucial to protect the country from terrorism, lawmakers must ensure that press freedom and free expression are safeguarded in the process.

The bill includes provisions that could expose journalists to legal risks, particularly Sections 17(f) and 32(f), which criminalize sharing information that is known or suspected to be false. These offenses carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment and 15 years in prison, respectively. Another provision, Section 4, grants authorities the power to request and obtain information from any person or authority, raising concerns about unchecked government surveillance.

Local media, as well as the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, have criticized the broad language of the bill and its harsh penalties, arguing that it poses a significant threat to free speech and civic engagement in the country. Despite these concerns, presidential spokesperson Yusuf Keketoma Sandi dismissed the objections as “unjustifiable.”