AYV News, May 5, 2025
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has welcomed Sierra Leone’s Upward Move in 2025 World Press Freedom Index.
National Secretary General of SLAJ, Alhaji Manika Kamara said the Association warmly welcomes the news that Sierra Leone has moved eight places up to 56th in 2025 from 64th in 2024 out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Friday, 2nd May 2025.
Reacting to the news, SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, described the development as “both encouraging and validating,” noting that it reflects the tangible progress made in recent years to promote press freedom, media professionalism, and journalist safety in Sierra Leone.
“This progress is not accidental. It is the result of years of consistent advocacy, engagement, and reform. From the repeal of the criminal and seditious libel laws in 2020 to ongoing initiatives around media capacity-building, better regulation, and safety, SLAJ has remained committed to ensuring that press freedom is not just an abstract ideal, but a lived and protected right in Sierra Leone,” said Nasralla.
The SLAJ President emphasised that the improvement in ranking- especially amid global challenges of misinformation, political polarization, and shrinking economies and civic space- is a sign that Sierra Leone is becoming a more enabling environment for independent journalism.
“As my tenure ends, I view this as a shared achievement- for our members, for our partners in civil society, for media support organisations, and for the Government of Sierra Leone. It shows what is possible when we work together to build a freer, safer, and more professional media sector,” Nasralla added.
However, the SLAJ President cautions against complacency, noting that challenges remain, including the safety and welfare of journalists, the sustainability of independent media, and the growing threat of disinformation.
“Let this ranking not be a finish line, but a fresh motivation to do more. Our ambition must go beyond numbers- we want a media landscape that empowers citizens, holds power to account, and upholds the highest standards of journalism,” said Nasralla.
Meanwhile, SLAJ reaffirms its commitment to continuing its work with all stakeholders to consolidate these gains and move Sierra Leone further up the index in the years ahead.
