Sierra Leone: journalist Melvin Tejan Mansaray, specialist in parliamentary affairs, denied access to Parliament for over a year

Journalist Melvin Tejan Mansaray's career has been in freefall since he was excluded from the Sierra Leonean Parliament over a year ago. The ban has had what he describes as "huge" consequences for his professional situation, resulting in the loss of several contracts, including parliamentary correspondent position for Epic Radio. His status as an expert on parliamentary matters, both across the African continent and in the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has also been affected.

His exclusion dates back to 10 January 2025 when the Speaker of the House, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, bannedhim from entering the precinct of the Parliament in the country's capital, Freetown, until further notice, accusing him of "taking it upon himself singularly to be an opposition to whatever Parliament does." Justifying his decision againa few days later, he accused the journalist of "insulting conduct" for describing MPs as "useless." However, the Speaker provided no evidence to substantiate his claim, which Melvin Tejan Mansaray denies completely. The Speaker notably sent a warning to other journalists in the parliamentary press gallery, telling them "It is by my permission that you sit there."

This decision came after a segment aired on Radio Democracyin which the journalist questionedthe procedure adopted to dismissof Auditor General Lara Taylor-Pearce - who is responsible for auditing the accounts of public entities - and her deputy Tamba Momoh in December 2024. Melvin Tejan Mansaray had notably stated that certain MPs were "unserious". More than a year later, the sanction is still in force.

The veteran journalist has been covering parliamentary affairs for over 15 years, making him one of the most experienced specialists on the subject. He regularly appears in the media to analyse politics. "His absence creates a noticeable gap in how information reaches ordinary citizens," laments his colleague Jariatu Bangura of the daily newspaper Concord Times, who added that several young journalists were relying on Melvin Tejan Mansaray's experience to understand the complexities of parliamentary work. "Silencing him from Parliament feels like silencing the people," she denounces.

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) expressed concernas early as January 2025 about this setting a "dangerous precedent" and approached the authorities to have the sanction lifted, in vain.

In Sierra Leone, the Parliament's standing ordersgive the Speaker the power to allow journalists to attend parliamentary debates according to the rules he may make and to revoke such permission if such rules are contravened. However, this power is subject to certain constraints. Section 25 of the 1991 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the right to report without interference, whilst the Independent Media Commission (IMC) Act, passed in 2020, grants this regulatory body the authority to rule on professional misconduct by the media and journalists.

Despite calls from the SLAJ, political figures and press freedom organisations to refer the case to the IMC for a fair and impartial hearing, the matter was not referred to the Commission. In March 2025, two months after the ban was introduced, Melvin Tejan Mansaray was summonedby the Parliament's Committee on Ethics and Privileges - a first for a Sierra Leonean journalist. However, the committee's report was never tabled for debate in Parliament, nor was it made public.

The Speaker has not responded to RSF's requests for comment. The organisation's messages and phone calls to the Director of Communications and the Public Relations Officer at Parliament have also gone unanswered.