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(Featured Image: Paul Kamara)
The West Africa Network of Activists and Media Defense Lawyers (WANAMDEL) has strongly condemned the assault on one of its members, Paul Kamara Esq., by police officers in Sierra Leone.
In a statement, the regional network of press freedom and human rights lawyers said the incident occurred on April 4, 2026, at the Adonkia Police Station in Freetown. Kamara had visited the station to follow up on investigations into the death of his colleague, Augustine Sensie Bangura.
WANAMDEL explained that after interacting with officers at the Criminal Investigations Department and joining sympathisers at the station to console the bereaved family, Kamara witnessed a confrontation between a police officer and a civilian.
According to the group, Kamara’s attempt to de-escalate the situation was met with hostility, as he was allegedly assaulted, restrained, and pepper-sprayed by another officer, despite identifying himself as a lawyer and journalist.
The network expressed grave concern over what it described as the officers’ disregard for the rule of law and professional standards, noting that the use of force, intimidation, and assault against a legal practitioner is unacceptable.
WANAMDEL also criticised the treatment Kamara received when he attempted to file a complaint at the station’s Complaints Desk, alleging that officers on duty responded with indifference and ridicule.
The group noted that it took the intervention of concerned individuals, who contacted the Local Unit Commander, before Kamara was allowed to formally lodge his complaint.
WANAMDEL called for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the incident, urging authorities to sanction all officers involved and implement measures to prevent a recurrence.
The network further stressed that the Sierra Leone Police must uphold their responsibility to protect the rights and dignity of all citizens.
WANAMDEL, established by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), comprises 14 human rights lawyers providing legal support to journalists, activists, and media organisations across the region.
The statement was jointly signed by members from across West Africa, including representatives from Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and Togo.
