The Sierra Leone government reiterated its commitment to promoting information integrity, media freedom, and equitable access to public-interest data at the Regional Conference on Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel, which will be held in Praia, Cabo Verde, from September 3 to 5, 2025.
Sierra Leone, led by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), joined over 20 delegations made up of government ministers, regulators, civil society leaders, and digital platform representatives to address growing regional threats such as disinformation, hate speech, and information manipulation. The conference featured high-level and thematic sessions aimed at facilitating coordinated responses throughout the subregion.
Sierra Leone’s representative, Mr. Emmanuel Abubakar Benoni Turay, highlighted national progress in institutional reforms and media development at the high-level plenary on “Safeguarding Information Integrity During Conflict, Crisis, and Elections,” which included the establishment of a government fact-checking unit. Mr. Turay emphasised the country’s efforts to align its national policy with the Model Policy for Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel, which was approved at the conference.
“Sierra Leone believes that access to credible information is essential for democracy and peace. “We are proud to contribute to regional efforts that promote transparency, accountability, and human rights in the digital age,” Mr. Turay stated.
Panel discussions spanned three days and focused on emerging technologies, electoral integrity, media literacy, and regulatory innovation—all of which were identified as critical to strengthening resilience against information disorder. Sierra Leone’s delegation took an active role in validating the Praia Action Plan, a regional roadmap outlining priority actions for cooperation, capacity building, and long-term funding of information integrity initiatives.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education thanked the Government of Cabo Verde, UNESCO, ECOWAS, and other partners for organising the conference and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue. According to the ministry, Sierra Leone remains committed to implementing the conference outcomes, which include putting the fact-checking unit into action, mainstreaming the Model Policy domestically, and increasing multi-stakeholder engagement to create a more resilient and inclusive information ecosystem across West Africa and the Sahel.
