FREETOWN, 6th October 2026 – The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has condemned an alleged death threat made against veteran journalist Thomas Josephus Dixon by the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Moses Sellu Mambu.
According to a press release issued by SLAJ on Tuesday, 6th October, the incident reportedly happened after a live television programme at Africa Young Voices (AYV) in Freetown on Sunday, 27th September 2026.
Dixon, who is Chairman of the Guild of Newspaper Editors and Managing Editor of the New Age Newspaper, alleged in a formal complaint to SLAJ that Mambu approached him after the programme, in the presence of AYV presenter Victor Jones and videographer Abu Bakarr Kamara, and said:
“We will hit you hard! This is the same reason for which your friend Samura was killed the last time.”
AYV presenter Victor Jones has provided SLAJ with a formal eyewitness account that corroborated the allegation, SLAJ said.
‘A Direct Threat to Free Press’
SLAJ President, Alhaji Manika Kamara, described the reported statement as “extremely grave and disturbing,” particularly because it invoked the death of journalist Ibrahim Samura.
Samura, a former journalist and activist, died in 2018 after he was allegedly assaulted while covering a bye-election. The incident sparked national outrage and criminal proceedings were later instituted, but ended in acquittals.
“A threat against a journalist should not be seen as a personal matter only; it is a direct threat to the free press and, by extension, the public’s right to know. Journalists must never be forced to choose between carrying out their professional duty and protecting their lives,” Kamara said.
“Whether such words were intended as a threat or otherwise must be established through a proper investigation. What cannot be acceptable is for any journalist to be left living in fear because of his or her professional work.”
Mambu Denies
When contacted by SLAJ Secretary General Edward Fara Marrah, Mr. Mambu denied making a threat, stating that after the live programme he only cautioned Mr. Dixon to be careful.
Calls for Investigation
SLAJ is now calling on the Sierra Leone Police and other relevant authorities to urgently and impartially investigate the matter, establish the facts, and take appropriate action.
The association also called on the leadership of the ruling SLPP to publicly reaffirm its commitment to press freedom and make clear that threats or intimidation against journalists are unacceptable.
It further urged the authorities to assess the security concerns raised by Dixon and provide protection for him and his family while investigations continue.
SLAJ maintained that freedom of expression cannot be enjoyed where journalists operate under fear.
“SLAJ remains unequivocal: criticism of journalism may be legitimate; intimidation and threats against journalists are not,” the statement signed by Secretary General Edward Fara Marrah concluded.
