SLAJ PRESIDENT DEPARTS FOR LAGOS, NIGERIA: Attends 2nd Regional Conference on Countering Information Manipulation and Hate Speech in West Africa

Date: 8th July 2024

PRESS RELEASE

The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, departs Sierra Leone today for Lagos, Nigeria, to attend the 2nd Regional Conference on Countering Information Manipulation and Hate Speech in West Africa from the 9th to 11th July 2024.

Organised by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and funded by Global Affairs Canada, the conference serves as a platform for countries in Central West Africa to present their achievements and case studies on countering misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech to promote information sharing across the region.

The SLAJ President is expected to do a presentation of his organization and country’s experience with countering misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech during the June 2023.

The SLAJ President is accompanied by Mabinty Magdalene Kamara, one of the fact-checkers of the SLAJ SuperNewsRoom supported by NDI to counter dis/misinformation before, during and after Sierra Leone’s recent elections. Magdalene is also the Editor of Politico Newspaper and Vice President of Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL).

“I am excited to attend this 2nd Regional Conference and I am looking forward to sharing our experience. The existential threat of dis/misinformation and hate speech undermines democracy, peace and stability in our region, and we need collaborative efforts to address it,” said Nasralla.

 

Signed:

Alhaji Manika Kamara

National Secretary General

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Sierra Leone’s former president to face the ICC soon

By Mabinty M. Kamara

 

Claim: Former President Ernest Koroma to face the ICC soon, citing New York Times

Verdict: False and manipulated content

Methodology:

The claims in the posts are that:

  1. i)                  The former President has been invited by the International Criminal Court (ICC)
  2. ii)                The ICC has collected photographs, fingerprints and DNA of the former president.

To verify these claims, SLAJ/NDI super Newsroom fact checkers contacted the Communications person of the former president, Ishmael who refuted the claims.

The team of fact-checkers also contacted the ICC for verification through their verified Facebook page (7) Facebook but could not find any such posts. We also search on the New York Times official website The New York Times – Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos (nytimes.com) but could not find such a report.

Conclusion: The Newspaper was manipulated and the photo of the former president placed therein.

Note:  This fact-checked story is a product of the SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom on Combating Disinformation in Sierra Leone’s 2023 electoral cycle. The project is supported by Global Affairs Canada to enable citizens to have access to credible and accurate information during and after the elections.

U Don Chek Am? Na 4 Chek Am!

 

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THE CYBER LAW & FREE EXPRESSION IN SALONE: The Need to Protect the Civic Space

By: Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, President, SLAJ
The young lawyer arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sierra Leone Police for expressing her views on X, bringing the legitimacy of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio to question, was released on bail on Wednesday this week after spending a night in police detention.
Lawyer Joy Precious Bayoh’s expression directly responded to an X post by President Bio about his meeting with the ‘President and Executive of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA)’ after a contentious election last month and a contended outcome. Joy, who was apparently unhappy about that meeting, said in her X post that the legitimacy of President Bio is as questionable as that of the SLBA President and Executive he received at State House in a recent courtesy call.
According to accounts by lawyers in the same legal chamber with Joy, a truckload of armed police personnel and about five plain clothes CID officials first stormed her office with orders to arrest her but she was not there at the time. The next day her colleagues escorted her to the CID, and she was detained after a statement was obtained from her. CID officials say she is being investigated for “incitement and other cyber-related offences”.
Lawyer Joy’s case continues to justify our initial fears about the Cyber Security and Crime law. Those fears were expressed and communicated officially in our position paper. We feared and predicted that law enforcement agencies would use the cyber law to clamp down on critical and dissenting voices. We were suspicious about its legislation, especially a year after the landmark repeal of the criminal libel law.
While we recognized the need for a law that would help tackle online crimes, we also raised the red flag on sections that we believed would infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens, especially freedom of expression and of the press, as well as privacy.
Those fears are now justified as the police continue to apply the cyber security law in the same fashion they did with the criminal libel law for half a century. We know the cyber law will be further abused in the name of security and on the interesting allegation of cyber-stalking and harassment of highly-placed people and the powers that be.
Under our Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) platform, we have monitored and documented a series of Cybersecurity cases since 2021; from the arrest and detention of Ahmed Doyle Kamara, popularly known as Tazmo Sliz, a musician and influencer in Makeni for cyberbullying, to a journalist of Okentukou Radio in Kamakwie for sharing false information. (See link to MRCG press freedom reports: https://mrcgonline.org/…/278-eleventh-edition-of-press…).
We are concerned that this trend has a chilling effect on the civic space, and we cannot wait for another half a century or more to fix this law. We may not agree with what people say, but we must protect their right to freedom of expression.
Journalism and democracy thrive in a space where people can express themselves freely and it is our place as journalists to protect this right and freedom because our profession depends on it.
We acknowledge that this Government has continued to demonstrate the political will for media development since they were first elected in 2018. Through our constructive engagement and collaborative approach, we have achieved big gains in media development: the repeal of the criminal libel law, the annual subventions to SLAJ, the national blueprint for media development, the national fund for public interest media, and improved relationship with the security sector.
However, these gains will be meaningless if we cannot guarantee people’s fundamental right to free expression. The civic space is where we all meet and interact: journalists, professionals, public officials, politicians, the people, CSOs, etc. All the more reason we must continue to expand its boundaries and guarantee our freedom, safety, and security within the space.
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SLAJ Secretary General Speaks About the Importance of Human Rights Perspective in Journalism

#SLAJsecretariat

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, Alhaji Manika Kamara, Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), delivered a statement at a training workshop focused on incorporating a human rights-based approach into news reporting. The event, organized by the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL), took place at the Peace Museum.

Manika expressed SLAJ’s enthusiasm for participating in professional training sessions, emphasizing the value of such programs in enhancing the skills and capacities of journalists, particularly in specialized fields like human rights reporting. He highlighted the workshop’s goal to deepen journalists’ understanding of integrating human rights principles such as dignity, equality, and respect into their reporting.

According to Manika, this approach ensures that news stories not only inform but also empower audiences, bringing attention to the situations and experiences of marginalized communities.

The Secretary-General underscored the importance of a human rights perspective in journalism, noting that it equips journalists to tell stories that reflect diverse voices while advocating for justice and accountability, especially for the voiceless and powerless. He stressed the necessity for journalists to be knowledgeable about local and international human rights laws, treaties, and conventions to enhance their reporting.

Manika encouraged active participation, urging attendees to ask questions and critically consider the impact of their work. He expressed gratitude to HRCSL for organizing the training and expressed hope for future collaborations to further strengthen journalists’ knowledge and skills.

Manika ended by calling on journalists to make the most of the learning opportunity, aiming to contribute to a more informed and just society.

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SLPP and APC Unite to Combat Hate Speech

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Claim: The SLPP and APC have united to denounce hate speech and political violence.

Verdict: TRUE

Methodology:  A press statement dated June 3, 2024, confirms the resolve of the two main political parties in Sierra Leone to fight against hate speech.

The SLAJ/NDI SuperNews fact-checkers contacted officials from both political parties. These officials confirmed the authenticity of the agreement as stated in the press release dated June 3, 2024, which was signed by representatives from both parties.

Conclusion: In the joint statement, both parties committed to promoting national unity, upholding free speech with responsibility, denouncing hate speech, and fostering respectful political discourse.

This fact check is a product of the SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom on combating disinformation in Sierra Leone’s 2023 electoral cycle. The project is supported by Global Affairs Canada.

#U Don Chek Am? Na 4 Chek Am!

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RSLAF Head of Media Refutes False Criticism of President Bio

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Claim: Lieutenant Colonel Issa Bangura criticizes President Julius Maada Bio in an interview on Radio Democracy’s Good Morning Salone Programme, stating why former President Koroma is more popular and successful than President Bio. This claim was spread via a widely circulated video on social media (WhatsApp).

Verdict: FALSE

Methodology: The SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom fact-checkers used both electronic and physical methods to verify the video. They contacted PRO Lieutenant Colonel Issa Bangura and interviewer Musa S. Kamara for verification. Bangura refuted the statements attributed to him, stating that he never made such comments. He confirmed that while he has appeared on the show to discuss RSLAF and state security issues, the video in question is fake and manipulated. Bangura reported the matter to the Sierra Leone Police, emphasizing that such actions constitute a crime.

Musa S. Kamara corroborated Bangura’s statement, confirming that the video is manipulated. He noted that the original interview took place on November 27 last year, following a foiled coup in Sierra Leone. Digital video fact-checking tools, including Truepic, Invid, and TinEye, confirmed the video’s manipulation.

Original Interview: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/AaoZcZWyYbBG4wtc/?mibextid=oFDknk

Conclusion: The video has been manipulated and widely shared.

Note: A deepfake is a machine-generated image or video that alters faces, bodies, or voices, making people appear to do or say things they never did. Items can also be added to videos to distort the truth.

This fact-check is a product of the SLAJ/NDI SuperNewsRoom on combating disinformation in Sierra Leone’s 2023 electoral cycle. The project is supported by Global Affairs Canada.

#U Don Chek Am? Na 4 Chek Am!

 

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SLAJ President Visits Ataya Bases

By Christian Conteh

President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, together with members of the SLAJ/NDI-Combating Disinformation project team, undertook a significant community engagement initiative, visiting two prominent Attaya Bases in Freetown—Lumley Car Park Ataya Base in the far west and Maxwell Street Ataya Base in Wellington in the far east late last month.

The visit was a crucial component of the Combating Disinformation in Sierra Leone’s 2023 electoral cycle project, supported by the National Democratic Institute and funded by Global Affairs Canada. The project aims to leverage social structures at the community level to actively combat disinformation.

Engaging in meaningful dialogue on countering disinformation, Nasralla encouraged open discussions about the challenges in the information space, fostering a collective commitment to truthful information dissemination. The campaign not only raised awareness but also aimed to cultivate a discerning and informed society capable of countering disinformation effectively.

In his address to approximately 25 young individuals, predominantly men, at the Lumley Ataya Base, Nasralla introduced the Combating Disinformation Project. He shed light on the team’s efforts leading up to and during the country’s June 2023 General elections. Nasralla provided practical examples of the dangers of misinformation, citing incidents that resulted in unrest and loss of lives in areas such as Tombo, Makeni, and Freetown on August 10.

To empower the community members, Nasralla introduced trusted news and information sources that could be used to verify information received from various channels, including social media.
In response, Pa Brima, Chairman of the Attaya Base, expressed gratitude to the SLAJ President and his team. He pledged to disseminate the information within their community, ensuring that those not present would also benefit.

“We are truly grateful to SLAJ for this eye-opening visit. The discussions have enlightened us, and we pledge to share this valuable knowledge with our community members who are not present. This is what we want to see from our leaders, coming down to our level to engage us occasionally. I have been seeing the SLAJ President on TV and hearing him talk on the radio, I am happy to see and meet with him in person today,” Pa Brima said.

Sulaiman Conteh encouraged the team to do such engagement more often since the issues discussed are critical and different categories of people come to the Attaya base at different times of the day.

“The Combating Disinformation Project is a game-changer for us. The examples given by the SLAJ President are very true, this will make us more aware of the dangers of disinformation. This visit has been an enlightening experience and we appreciate the effort to educate our community,” Conteh said.

The engagement concluded with a lively question-and-answer session.

Continuing his efforts, Nasralla replicated the activity at Maxwell Ataya Base in the east end of Freetown. Emphasizing the importance of countering disinformation, Nasralla encouraged questions from the attendees. One participant raised concern about disinformation on traditional media, highlighting that misinformation extends beyond social media platforms.

During our visit, Adama Sesay, the only lady present at the Maxwell Ataya Base, noted, “As someone who relies heavily on social media, I’ve often fallen victim to misleading information. The SLAJ President’s guidance on verifying sources is invaluable. We’ve learned a lot today and we’ll ensure this knowledge spreads within our community.”

Nasralla reiterated that combating disinformation requires vigilance across all media channels. The Maxwell Ataya Base Chairman acknowledged Nasralla’s visit and affirmed the dissemination of information to those absent during the engagement.

These community engagements aimed not only to raise awareness but also to empower communities to discern and counter misinformation effectively.

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False Claims: No $10 Million Funding for June 2023 Election Rerun

By: Christian Conteh

Claim: $10 million to be provided for the Re-run of the June 2023 election.

Verdict: FALSE

Full Text: A Twitter message, shared on Facebook by a user claiming to be Ambassador Ablish Kay (@Abdulai55153262), asserted that while the $1.5 million provided by the US Government is not intended for an election rerun, a substantial sum of $10 million would be provided for the rerun of the June 2023 Presidential Elections.

“Please relax, don’t stress yourself. The $1.5 million from the U.S is not for a Re-run election but to support the TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE in their work. After the recommendations, the over $10 million for the Re-run election will come from everywhere. #DrSamuraKamara to STATE HOUSE.”

Methodology: Upon investigation, no evidence was found to suggest that $10 million is earmarked from any source for an election rerun.

Conclusion: The claim stating that over $10 million for the Re-run election will come from everywhere is entirely false.

OIP

False Claim – $1.5 Million from the US is not for Rerun of  2023 Elections

By: Christian Conteh

Claim: The US government has provided the sum of $1.5 million to facilitate the rerun of the June 2023 Presidential elections in Sierra Leone.

Verdict: FALSE

Full Text: Several messages circulating on social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, claim that the $1.5 million provided by the US government is intended for facilitating a rerun of the June 2023 Presidential Elections in Sierra Leone.

This information has been widely shared, especially by members and supporters of the main opposition, the APC, following their candidate Dr. Samura Kamara’s loss to the incumbent President Julius Maada Bio, as per official figures from the country’s electoral commission.

Methodology: A statement from the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, during a press conference in Freetown, unequivocally clarified that the US government’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s electoral reform processes with a $1.5 million grant is not aimed at revisiting past election results. Instead, the focus is on strengthening democracy in Sierra Leone for the future.

Conclusion: The claim that the US government provided $1.5 million for rerunning the 2023 Presidential Elections in Sierra Leone is false.

 

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Acting Head of Sierra Leone Prisons Refutes Resignation Rumors

By: Mabinty M Kamara

Claim: Colonel Massaquoi, the Acting Head of Prisons in Sierra Leone, has submitted his resignation letter this evening for personal reasons.

Verdict: FALSE

Full Text: Contrary to circulating rumours on social media platforms, Colonel Massaquio has dismissed the claim of his resignation from the position of Acting Director of Sierra Leone Correctional Center.

“My attention has been drawn to a social media post which says that I have resigned my position as Acting Director of Sierra Leone Correctional Center. I wish to make it explicitly clear that the information is not only false and baseless but intended to smear my character and paint me bad,” he said.

He added, “The general public is advised to ignore the baseless story and is assured of my loyalty to the Oath that I took to defend the country and protect the constitution of Sierra Leone.”

Methodology:

Both Colonel Massaquoi and the Prisons Communications Unit have issued a disclaimer, refuting the baseless rumours and affirming his continued commitment to his role.