By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has welcomed the country’s advancement in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, moving eight places up to 56th from 64th in 2024 out of 180 countries. The ranking, released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on May 2, 2025, reflects significant strides in press freedom, media professionalism, and journalist safety in Sierra Leone.
Reacting to the development, SLAJ President Ahmed Sahid Nasralla described the improvement as “both encouraging and validating,” attributing it to years of advocacy, engagement, and reform.
“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.
Strengthening Sierra Leone’s Media Environment
The SLAJ President emphasized that the country’s improved ranking is particularly significant given global challenges such as misinformation, political polarization, economic instability, and shrinking civic space.
“This ranking signals that Sierra Leone is becoming a more enabling environment for independent journalism,” Nasralla noted.
With his tenure at SLAJ drawing to a close, he described the achievement as a shared success between journalists, civil society, media support organizations, and the Government of Sierra Leone, demonstrating the impact of collective efforts in fostering a freer, safer, and more professional media sector.
Challenges Remain
Despite the progress, Nasralla cautioned against complacency, acknowledging ongoing challenges such as journalist safety, the sustainability of independent media, and the rise 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,” he stated.
SLAJ’s Commitment Moving Forward
SLAJ reaffirmed its dedication to press freedom, vowing to continue collaborating with stakeholders to consolidate these gains and push Sierra Leone further up the index in the coming years.
As media professionals and organizations reflect on this achievement, SLAJ remains committed to advancing journalism as a cornerstone of democracy in Sierra Leone.