Umu Thoronka, a Sierra Leonean female journalist, was unlawfully dismissed from her position at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) on July 26, 2024, in retaliation for exercising her right to freedom of expression and opinion by posting a video deemed to be critical of the president of Sierra Leone on her TikTok account. Following her dismissal, Ms. Thoronka faced intimidation and death threats, ultimately forcing her into exile.

Her dismissal was the culmination of a long-standing pattern of gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment that she suffered at the hands of her supervisors at SLBC since 2017. 

Why is This a Key Case?

This case reflects the entrenched problem of sexual harassment and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone’s media industry. The government of Sierra Leone has previously declared a state of national emergency on sexual violence, underscoring its prevalence and severity across the country. 

The petition alleges that Sierra Leone violated Ms. Thoronka’s rights to freedom of expression and opinion, as well as her right to freedom from discrimination, which ultimately led to her unlawful summary dismissal. It specifically highlights how systemic sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination in the media industry created the conditions for her unlawful dismissal. 

How is RFK Human Rights Supporting Umu Thoronka?

On September 19, 2025, RFK Human Rights submitted a petition to the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States, acting as counsel for Women in the Media Sierra Leone and Umu Thoronka.

Name of the case (as it appears in the respective legal mechanism)

Umu Thoronka & Anor. v. The Republic of Sierra Leone

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Month/Year of filing

September 2025

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Legal mechanism in which the case is being litigated

Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States

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Rights and legal instruments alleged violated (OR found to have been violated)

Articles 1, 2, 4, 9, 15, and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Articles 2 and 4 of the Maputo Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa.

Article 1(k) of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance

Article 66(c) of the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States.

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Procedural stage

On September 19, 2025, the ECOWAS Court registered the application, which was sent to Sierra Leone with the request that Sierra Leone lodge a defence within 30 days.

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Counsel

RFK Human Rights and Mr. Paul Kamara.