Freetown, August 30, 2025 — The Guild of Newspaper Editors (GoN-SL) has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as the growing misuse of the Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021 by law enforcement agencies to intimidate journalists and suppress free speech in Sierra Leone.
The Guild’s statement follows the recent interrogation of its Chairman and Managing Editor of New Age Newspaper, Thomas Dixon, who was summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over a news alert he published. According to the Guild, Dixon was subjected to eight hours of questioning, during which threats of detention were made, an action they say falls outside the scope of the cyber law and undermines constitutional protections.
“I am worried about the future of journalism, especially as most legacy media are striving to establish a digital presence,” Dixon said. “The way the police are misusing the Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021 is nothing short of a reincarnation of Part 5 of the 1965 Public Order Act, which criminalised free speech. Today it is Thomas Dixon, but tomorrow it could be another journalist.”
In a separate incident, senior journalist Sahr Matturi of Standard Times Newspaper was also detained by CID officers on allegations of cyberbullying and cyberstalking. He was released on August 28, but the Guild described his arrest as part of a troubling pattern of arbitrary enforcement aimed at silencing journalists.
The Guild emphasised that when journalists err in their professional duties, there are lawful avenues for redress, including the Independent Media Commission (IMC) and civil libel procedures. It warned that using the Cybersecurity and Crime Act as a punitive tool against media professionals constitutes an abuse of power and threatens democratic governance.
Concerns were further heightened when, during Dixon’s interrogation, threats were reportedly made against the online platform of The Gleaner Newspaper, raising fears of broader efforts to target independent media outlets.
The Guild called on the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure the Cybersecurity and Crime Act is applied strictly within its legal framework and not used to criminalise journalism. It also urged the Sierra Leone Police to respect constitutional safeguards and refrain from intimidating media practitioners.
Finally, the Guild appealed to the international community, civil society organisations, and press freedom advocates to take note of these 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 Secretary General Ishmail Saidu Kanu Esq “We will continue to resist any attempt to roll back the hard-won gains made after the repeal of criminal libel in Sierra Leone.”
