The West Africa Network of Activists and Media Defense Lawyers (WANAMDEL), a network of leading press freedom and human rights lawyers across West Africa, strongly condemns the assault on our colleague, Paul Kamara Esq., by police officers in Sierra Leone.
The incident occurred on April 4, 2026, at the Adonkia Police Station in Freetown, where Kamara had gone to follow up on investigations into the death of his colleague, Augustine Sensie Bangura. After engaging officers at the station’s Criminal Investigations Department and joining sympathisers at the police station compound to console the bereaved family, he witnessed a confrontation between a police officer and a member of the public.
In an attempt to de-escalate tensions between the parties, Kamara was instead met with aggression by the police officer. He was physically assaulted, restrained, and pepper sprayed by another officer, despite identifying himself as a lawyer and journalist. WANAMDEL is gravely concerned over the conduct of the officers, noting that such actions, including intimidation, assault, and the use of force, demonstrate a disregard for the rule of law and police professional standards.
We further condemn the treatment Kamara received when he attempted to file a complaint at the Complaints Desk of the station following his assault. Upon reaching the Complaints Desk, he was met with indifference and ridicule by the officers on duty. It was only after the intervention of concerned individuals, who contacted the Local Unit Commander, that he was permitted to lodge a complaint.
WANAMDEL calls for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the incident, the sanctioning of all officers involved, and the adoption of concrete measures to prevent recurrence. The Sierra Leone Police must uphold their duty to protect the rights and dignity of all persons.
WANAMDEL is a network of 14 human rights lawyers established by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) to provide legal support to journalists, activists, and media organisations across the region.
Signed:
- Augusto Mário da Silva – Guiné-Bissau
- Dogbemin Kone – Côte d’Ivoire
- Gloria Mabeiam Ballason – Nigeria
- Houssou Brice – Benin
- Martin Kpebu – Ghana
- Mojirayo Oluwatoyin Ogunlana – Nigeria
- Moussa Sarr – Senegal
- Neneh M.C Cham – The Gambia
- Paul Kamara – Sierra Leone
- Salifou Béavogui – Guinea
- Samson Lardy-Anyenini – Ghana
- Sarnyenneh M. Dickson – Liberia
- Thérèse DONU – Togo
- Zakaria Tanko-Musah – Ghana
