The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged Sierra Leone’s government to drop all seditious libel charges against the editor and publisher of a Freetown newspaper. Independent Observer publisher Jonathan Leigh and chief editor Bai Bai Sesay were arrested on Oct. 18, 2013 and are due to return to court on Wednesday for publishing a commentary […]

Within hours of publishing a column describing President Ernest Bai Koroma’s behaviour to that of a rat, the two top editors of the Independent Observer in Sierra Leone were behind bars, accused of libel and sedition. Despite printing an apology to the president on Nov. 11, publisher Jonathan Leigh and chief editor Bai Bai Sesay […]

The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged African media leaders who are gathering in Ethiopia this week to unite in defending news organisations from government interference, including the use of anti-terrorism laws to suppress independent reporting. The African Media Leaders Forum (AMLF) is taking place in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa from Nov. 6-8, […]

The International Press Institute (IPI) expressed serious concern today over the future of press freedom in Sierra Leone following inflammatory statements made by Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, special executive assistant to President Ernest Koroma. IPI urges political leaders in Sierra Leone to distance themselves from the threatening remarks made by Blyden, and to commit to protecting […]