Sierra Leone's Parliament Speaker barred a journalist from the chamber for over a year after accusing him of insulting lawmakers.
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What happened
On 10 January 2025 Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas announced from the floor an indefinite ban on parliamentary-affairs journalist Melvin Tejan Mansaray, accusing him of "insulting conduct" for allegedly calling MPs "useless" and accusing the Speaker of rigging an election, claims Mansaray denies and the Speaker did not substantiate. The MFWA says the ban took effect before any inquiry and called it a violation of due process. Parliament's Ethics and Privileges Committee summoned Mansaray in March 2025; the MFWA reported he read a written apology and the committee adjourned the matter, but the ban stayed. RSF reports the committee's report was never made public and that the ban remained in force more than a year later; the Speaker did not respond to RSF. The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists warned of a "dangerous precedent."
Sources (2)
Response
Contacted and made an on-record admission — exact wording not on record.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.