Across West Africa, press freedom remains precarious as journalists, media outlets, and civil society actors continue to face repression, censorship, and violence. The month of January 2025 opened on a tragic note with the murder of Sierra Leonean journalist Samuel Brima Mattia, a stark reminder of the ongoing threats to media workers in the region.
While Sierra Leonean authorities arrested and obtained a confession from the alleged perpetrator, Mattia’s own station manager, justice remains elusive in neighbouring Ghana, where the 2019 murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale remains unresolved.
The January 2025 monitoring report also documents disturbing trends in media regulation across the region. Benin, Mali, and Guinea imposed sweeping suspensions and regulatory crackdowns on news outlets and journalists under the guise of maintaining public order and ethics. In Mauritania, a prominent anti-slavery activist was detained over a social media post, and in Sierra Leone, a journalist was barred from Parliament in a move that bypassed legal regulatory frameworks.
With support from the 11th Hour Project of The Schmidt Family Foundation, the MFWA continues to monitor and document these violations as part of efforts to promote a free and safe civic space in West Africa.
Access the full report here.