IFJ Condemns Violent Attack on Journalist in Sierra Leone

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the attack on a female journalist in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

"The continued attacks on journalists in Sierra Leone need to be addressed urgently by the Government" said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa Office. "These attacks constitute a serious threat to the democratic ideals of the country and must stop".

According to a press release issued by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, publisher and proprietor of the Awareness Times newspaper, was attacked in the capital, Freetown on January 27. She believes the attack was connected to the case being tried at the High Court on which she had reported.

The association said that Sylvia had expressed fear of an attack on her following articles she published which were critical of the people involved in the case. She now fears for her life and lives with a sense of a threat of death hanging over her head.

The IFJ stands shoulder to shoulder with journalists in Sierra Leone who are victims of these acts of violence and intimidation from individuals seeking to suppress the truth. 

"We expect a full and immediate investigation into this attack so that those who are behind are identified and held to account," added Baglo.

For more information contact the IFJ at      + 221 33 867 95 87    

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries worldwide