Despite the significant legal progress, the harassment of journalists remains endemic, particularly for those outlets known for critical reporting, such as Awoko or The Sierra Leone Telegraph. Governments, keen to control the narrative, increasingly resort to extralegal methods, including arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and politically motivated media shutdowns, especially when journalists probe corruption or electoral irregularities. These instances of direct censorship create a chilling effect, leading to pervasive self-censorship among reporters concerned about their security or the financial viability of their private outlets. The delicate balance between state-owned media, which often functions as an unchallenged propaganda arm, and the struggling, underfunded privately owned sector further skews the flow of objective information.