By Sulaiman Jalloh
The Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU) and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) have reaffirmed the vital role of the media in advancing transitional justice, peace, and national cohesion. This commitment was emphasized during a one-day training workshop for journalists held on Tuesday, 30th September 2025, at the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) in Freetown.
The workshop, organized by the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), was designed to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills required to report on transitional justice issues with depth, accuracy, and sensitivity.
In her address, SLRU President, Yeanor Kabia, described the training as both timely and essential for Sierra Leone’s democratic journey, as journalists, we are not just storytellers but active participants in truth-telling, justice, and national reconciliation, Kabia said.
She stressed that transitional justice is not only about addressing past wrongs but also about charting a future grounded in fairness, dignity, and inclusion. Kabia urged journalists to act as bridges between citizens and institutions, amplifying marginalized voices while keeping human rights and accountability at the center of national conversations. She reaffirmed SLRU’s dedication to ethical reporting and professional standards, commending MRCG for its sustained investment in building media capacity.
Echoing this, SLAJ President, Alhaji Manika Kamara, reflected on the enduring scars of Sierra Leone’s civil war and the media’s role in national healing.
As journalists, we are more than chroniclers of history we are watchdogs, educators, and the first bridge between truth and the public, Kamara emphasized.
He noted that while the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Special Court for Sierra Leone laid important foundations, the process of healing and rebuilding public trust is far from over. Kamara encouraged journalists to cover issues such as reparations, human rights, corruption, and governance with courage, sensitivity, and depth.
Transitional justice is not a closed chapter, he added. It continues to shape our institutions, our social fabric, and the people’s confidence in the rule of law.
Dr. Francis Sowa, MRCG Coordinator, underscored the importance of journalists fully understanding transitional justice concepts and methodologies. He explained that informed reporting not only educates the public but also strengthens democratic accountability and reconciliation efforts.
Both SLRU and SLAJ leaders called on participants to maximize the training by sharpening their reporting skills while embracing their responsibility as agents of peace and reconciliation.
The workshop forms part of MRCG’s broader initiative to enhance media capacity in post-conflict recovery. By promoting ethical and informed journalism, the initiative seeks to consolidate Sierra Leone’s peace gains, deepen national unity, and ensure that transitional justice remains a living process rather than a forgotten chapter.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 3rd October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
