Senior Journalist Umaru Fofanah, reporting for the British Broadcasting Corporation and Reuters was reportedly attacked in the line of duty at the All People's Congress Party's press briefing held at the Brookfield's hotel on Wednesday 14th June 2023 and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists(SLAJ), has issued a condemnation statement regarding the incident.
According to the release, Mr. Fofanah had been invited to cover the briefing and in his attempts to exit the hall, had been accosted by accusing supporters, who had all but physically harmed him.
Mr. Fofanah had been securely removed to safety by onlookers and a colleague Journalist.
Mr. Fofanah has recently been underfire from opposition APC for allegedly siding with the ruling Sierra Leone People's party in his reportage. In the past, Mr. Fofanah had also been verbally burned by accusations of his supporting the then APC party, whilst they were in governance.
Mr. Fofanah himself in a social media post has referred to such actions as a conspiracy to tarnish his person.
This is an implementation of threats proposed by supporters of the APC party who had issued specific punishments to be meted out on Mr. Fofanah for what they view as slants in his reportage.
The Publicity Secretary of the APC Sidi Yayah Tunis is quoted as dissociating the party from the act and hoping to prevent similar attacks against media practitioners.