Post a comment The Guild of Newspaper Editors – Sierra Leone (GoNE-SL) has strongly condemned the raid conducted on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the offices of The Watch Newspaper.
According to staff present during the incident, CID officers stormed the premises claiming they were searching for the Managing Editor of The Gleaner Newspaper. Workers explained that The Gleaner does not operate from that location, but the officers nevertheless insisted that the secretary of The Watch accompany them to CID headquarters for further questioning.
The Guild described the incident as intimidation, harassment, and a serious threat to press freedom, stating that police raids on media institutions have no place in a democratic society and must be unequivocally condemned.
Guild Chairman Thomas Dixon said: “Media houses should not be subjected to police raids for publishing a story. If the police want intelligence, they can use the story as a lead. What they did on Tuesday amounts to harassment and intimidation. There are many people online with pictures and videos of Jos Leijdekkers who could be of immense help to them.”
He emphasized that journalists cannot and should not be compelled to provide intelligence to the police. Newsrooms, he added, are not extensions of law enforcement, and reporters must be able to operate without fear or interference.
GoNE-SL is calling on the Sierra Leone Police to explain the raid, ensure accountability, and refrain from any further harassment of media institutions.
The Guild reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights, safety, and independence of journalists and editors across Sierra Leone.
