Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) has strongly condemned ongoing online harassment, personal attacks and what it describes as a smear campaign targeting female journalists Mabel Kabba and Kadija Bangura, co-owners of Liberty Online TV.
In a press release issued on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the organisation described the attacks as a serious threat not only to the two journalists but also to press freedom and women’s participation in public discourse in Sierra Leone.
WIMSAL acknowledged that media practitioners must remain open to public scrutiny and constructive criticism but stressed that disagreements should never be used as an excuse for personal attacks, intimidation or attempts to silence women.
“Freedom of expression does not give anyone the right to harass, intimidate or threaten journalists,” the organisation stated.
The organisation further warned that online violence constitutes real violence, noting that such attacks undermine the dignity, safety and professional work of women journalists.
According to WIMSAL, Mabel Kabba and Kadija Bangura have been subjected to sustained harassment on social media, including personal insults and attempts to discredit their work as journalists and media owners. Although the organisation did not identify those responsible, it described the pattern of abuse as a smear campaign intended to intimidate and silence the two women.
WIMSAL expressed full solidarity with the journalists and extended its support to all female journalists facing intimidation and harassment, both online and offline.
The organisation noted that women journalists in Sierra Leone continue to experience disproportionate levels of abuse, including gender-based insults, threats and attacks on their personal character, simply for carrying out their professional responsibilities.
Against this backdrop, WIMSAL called on the relevant authorities to take appropriate action to protect women journalists and ensure that those responsible for online harassment are held accountable.
It also appealed to members of the public, bloggers and social media users to exercise greater responsibility in their online engagements and refrain from using digital platforms to harass or intimidate others.
“We call on the relevant authorities to take appropriate action and urge the public, bloggers and social media users to exercise responsibility in their online engagements,” the statement added.
Reaffirming its commitment to defending the rights and welfare of women in the media, WIMSAL maintained that female journalists must be able to carry out their work without fear of intimidation or abuse.
“Women journalists must not be silenced. Their voices matter. Their work matters. Their safety matters,” the organisation declared.
The condemnation has also attracted support from media practitioners and press freedom advocates across the country, several of whom have taken to social media to express solidarity with Mabel Kabba and Kadija Bangura.
