Sierra Leone has experienced a notable decline in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Latest details show that the country has dropped ten positions to 64th place, with a score of 64.27, compared to its 54th position in the 2023 Index.

The authors note that this year, “press freedom is being threatened by the very people who should be its guarantors – governments and political actors,” adding that in compiling the rankings, “it is the political indicator that saw the steepest decline,” reflecting a broader trend of diminishing support for media freedom and escalating political pressure.

RSF further expressed concerns of seeing a worrying decline in support and respect for media freedom and an increase in political pressure in Sierra Leone, which underscores a troubling shift in the environment for press freedom globally.