By Lawrence Williams
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) on Thursday issued a statement condemning the attack on Umaru Fofana (photo) by members of the All Peoples Congress (APC) party. Fofana was attacked during a press conference called by the party’s flag bearer at the New Brookfields Hotel on Wednesday.
The attack on Fofana comes barely a few days after the party’s Holland-based supporter Abdul Kamara Will alias Adebayor incited APC members to attack media houses and target journalists, starting with Africa Young Voices (AYV) and Radio Democracy as primary targets.
In its press statement, SLAJ says Mr. Fofana, ex-president of the Association, was officially invited by the APC to provide news coverage of the event. He was attacked while going out to file the story by “a large group of APC supporters who directed offensive remarks toward his mother.” It adds that Fofana was also “threatened physically”.
In a telephone interview with Mr. Fofana last night, he said that such attacks have been persistent for almost a decade. The BBC reporter could not tell the motive behind these attacks since no political party or politician in the country has ever complained about his reports on the BBC or other media outlets.
“This is not the first time the BBC and Reuters broadcaster has encountered similar attacks from both members and supporters of the APC, with some originating from influential figures within the party,” the SLAJ release states; adding that “Fofana had brought it to the attention of the APC leadership every time he was attacked by the party’s supporters and members who have never publicly condemned the action of their members or taken any other action.”
Sidi Yayah Tunis, APC’s national publicity secretary, confirmed receiving a complaint from Fofana. He has promised to speak to the party’s leadership about it. SLAJ has also called on the APC to publicly condemn the attack and further rein in their supporters to refrain from all forms of attacks against journalists in the country.
But this is not the first time journalists in Sierra Leone have come under serious attacks from politicians and their supporters. In May 2005, Ag. Editor of For Di People Newspaper, Harry Yansaneh, was attacked and severely beaten by hired thugs and family members of Mrs. Fatmata Hassan. Mrs. Hassan was a sitting Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) member of parliament at the time. Yansaneh reportedly died from excessive bleeding and other complications resulting from injuries sustained during the attack.
Also in March 2018, journalist Ibrahim Samura, publisher and managing editor of New Age Newspaper, was attacked by APC thugs while covering the presidential runoff election. He was beaten with a “dog chain”. He was mainly hit on the head, back and legs. He died less than three months after suffering an “intracerebral haemorrhage” which autopsy experts attributed to a “blunt force injury to the head” suffered during the attack in March. A Human Rights Defenders Network investigation confirmed this position, stating that “Samura was severely beaten with a dog chain that eventually led to his death.”
Journalists angered by the recent attack on Fofana has called on their parent association to take a tough stance against any organisation or political party that incite its members to attack the press, starting with a news blackout, and to take legal action to ensure the safety of journalists nationwide.
