By Rose Aba Akafo
Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFK) have filed a petition to the ECOWAS Court challenging the “unlawful dismissal” of female journalist Umu Thoronka from the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).
WIMSAL said that Thoronka’s dismissal followed years of alleged sexual harassment and discrimination at the state broadcaster. Her final “offense” was posting a TikTok video that documented a woman being humiliated for questioning President Julius Maada Bio about food prices at a town hall meeting, which SLBC executives deemed critical of the president, resulting in the termination of her freelance contract.
“We cannot continue to suffer in silence,” said Umu Thoronka, speaking from exile during a WIMSAL press briefing last Wednesday.
Thoronka, who lost her freelancing job at SLBC in July 2024, recalled receiving a call from her station manager on July 26, informing her that she had been dismissed over the TikTok video because the SLBC management deemed it critical of the president.
“This case should serve as an example to stop political intimidation. I am doing this not only for myself but for many other women journalists who face harassment and threats daily,” Thoronka added.
Since her dismissal, Thoronka has endured intimidation, including home visits from unidentified men and death threats online. Fearing for her safety, she fled Sierra Leone after local authorities failed to investigate.
Her lawyers, Paul Kamara Esq. and Ikechukwu Uzoma Esq. argue that the government has violated her rights to freedom of expression, dignity, and safe working conditions, as well as its obligation to protect women journalists from gender-based violence.
RFK President Kerry Kennedy said the case goes beyond one journalist: “Umu Thoronka’s ordeal is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by women who speak truth to power. No one should be harassed, threatened, or forced into exile for doing their job. By bringing this case before ECOWAS, we are seeking justice for Umu and for countless women across West Africa silenced by systemic abuse.”
WIMSAL President Eastina Taylor noted that Thoronka’s story highlights systemic failures in Sierra Leone’s media industry. “SLBC’s refusal to regularize contracts, especially for women, has created fertile ground for exploitation and harassment. Umu’s case is not isolated; it is emblematic of a broader culture of impunity and violence against women in Sierra Leone,” she said, pointing to a BBC Africa Eye investigation that documented similar abuses.
