The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, has left Sierra Leone today for Lagos, Nigeria, to participate in the 2nd Regional Conference on Countering Information Manipulation and Hate Speech in West Africa.

The conference, scheduled from July 9th to 11th, 2024, is organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), with funding from Global Affairs Canada.

This significant event serves as a platform for countries in Central and West Africa to share their achievements and case studies on countering misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. The aim is to promote information sharing and collaborative efforts across the region. Nasralla is expected to present SLAJ’s and Sierra Leone’s experiences in combating these issues, particularly during the June 2023 elections.

Accompanying Nasralla is Mabinty Magdalene Kamara, a fact-checker from the SLAJ SuperNewsRoom. Supported by NDI, Kamara played a crucial role in countering misinformation and disinformation before, during, and after Sierra Leone’s recent elections. She also serves as the Editor of Politico Newspaper and Vice President of Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL).

“I am excited to attend this 2nd Regional Conference and look forward to sharing our experience. The existential threat of dis/misinformation and hate speech undermines democracy, peace, and stability in our region, and we need collaborative efforts to address it,” said Nasralla.

The conference underscores the ongoing regional efforts to tackle the spread of false information and hate speech, which pose significant threats to democratic processes and social harmony. Through such gatherings, countries in the region aim to strengthen their strategies and enhance cooperation in addressing these critical issues.