IMC Takes Landmark Decision Against Abuse Of Female Journalist

The Independent Media Commission (IMC) has ruled that the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) unlawfully terminated journalist, Umu Thoronka, ordering the state broadcaster to compensate her for the wrongful dismissal.

The decision follows three hearings conducted by the IMC beginning in November 2024. In its ruling, the Commission concluded that SLBC “failed to exercise due diligence in handling the termination process,” describing the dismissal as procedurally flawed and unjustified.

Women in the Media Sierra Leone  (WIMSAL) has welcomed the decision, calling it a landmark moment for fairness, accountability, and the protection of female journalists in the country.

“This ruling is a clear affirmation that women in the media deserve fairness, dignity and respect in their workplaces,” said WIMSAL President, Eastina Taylor, urging SLBC to comply promptly with the Commission’s directive.

Ms. Thoronka was dismissed in July 2024 after posting a TikTok video that showed a woman being publicly humiliated during a Presidential town hall meeting. SLBC had argued that she was not formally on its staff and accused her of breaching internal policies.

Following the incident, Ms. Thoronka reportedly faced sustained harassment, including online abuse, suspicious visits to her home by unidentified individuals, and death threats that eventually forced her into exile.

Her lawyer, Paul Kamara, described the IMC’s decision as “a restoration of Ms. Thoronka’s dignity,” noting that the case will also proceed before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.

According to supporters, the case highlights deeper systemic problems within the media industry. Despite working at SLBC for nearly a decade—anchoring flagship programmes and serving as head of entertainment—Ms. Thoronka allegedly never received a formal contract after rejecting sexual advances from senior officials. Her eventual dismissal, communicated via phone, has been cited as evidence of the hostile conditions she endured.

“This case reflects a troubling pattern of sexual harassment within the media industry in Sierra Leone and globally,” said Ikechukwu Uzoma of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Center, who is serving as co-counsel in the ECOWAS case. He noted that female journalists often face “quid pro quo harassment and hostile work environments when they resist.”

The suit before the ECOWAS Court, filed jointly by the Kennedy Human Rights Center and WIMSAL, argues that Ms. Thoronka’s rights to dignity, freedom of expression, and fair working conditions were violated.

Advocates say the IMC ruling represents only the first step toward justice, urging the government to take stronger action against sexual harassment in the media sector.

For WIMSAL, the case has grown beyond an individual dispute into a broader call for reform.

“This is an opportunity for Sierra Leone to match its public commitment to ending sexual violence with concrete action,” Taylor added.