Cybercrime Law Takes a Toll on Freedom of Expression in Sierra Leone
A Growing Concern for Human Rights
As Sierra Leone marks its one-year anniversary of the Cybersecurity and Crime Act, concerns are growing about its potential impact on the country’s already fragile freedom of expression landscape. The law, enacted on November 17, 2021, aimed to regulate online transactions and communications, but its early applications have raised eyebrows.
Recent Incidents Spark Fears
Recent incidents involving local artiste Alhaji Amadu Bah (LAJ) and two journalists have sparked fears that the authorities are using the cybercrime law to silence critics and repress dissenting voices. LAJ was arrested for threatening a journalist on Facebook, while two journalists were detained for allegedly forwarding comments on WhatsApp.
The Incidents
- LAJ threatened to physically harm Asmaa James, a journalist with Radio Democracy, after she covered his trial for causing public disorder and assaulting a police officer.
- Sorie Saio Sesay, a journalist with Okentuhun Radio FM, was detained for six days after forwarding a comment to a WhatsApp group linked to Calabash Newspaper’s website. The police accused him of spreading false information about a police killing.
- Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay, a former Minister and presidential aspirant, was arrested and charged under the Cybercrime Act for allegedly sending threatening messages to President Julius Maada Bio on WhatsApp.
Concerns About Abuse
Critics argue that these incidents are attempts to silence critics and muzzle their political activities. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has condemned the persecution of Sesay and other journalists, warning against the weaponization of the cybercrime law to repress freedom of expression online.
A Call to Action
The MFWA urges authorities to uphold their commitment to press freedom and avoid using the law as a tool for censorship. As Sierra Leone marks its one-year anniversary of the Cybersecurity and Crime Act, it remains to be seen whether the country will maintain its commitment to protecting human rights and upholding democratic principles or succumb to the temptation of using the law to silence critics.