The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP) has warned of a troubling decline in press freedom.
CEMES cautioned that recent developments have eroded the “hard-won democratic gains in the country’s media sector.”
In a statement at ceremony that marked this year’s World Press Freedom Day, the organization said, Liberia is at risk of reversing progress achieved over the years if urgent steps are not taken to address violations against journalists.
CEMESP Executive Director, Malcolm W. Joseph, expressed concern over “a pattern of harassment, intimidation and violence that targeted members of the press.”
“While Liberia has made notable strides in strengthening media freedoms,” CEMESP said, “those gains remain fragile and vulnerable to political and institutional interference.”
The group acknowledged legislative progress under the Kamara Abdullai Kamara (KAK) Act, which decriminalized certain speech-related offenses and improved the legal environment for journalists.
It also pointed to the role of the Independent Information Commission in expanding access to public information, noting that transparency mechanisms have improved in recent years.
CEMESP said, the advancements are being undermined by increasing incidents of abuse against journalists, particularly in rural parts of the country where “Country Devils” are being accused of harassing journalists.
The organization cited multiple cases reported in 2025 involving physical assaults, arbitrary detention and threats against media practitioners.
It warned that such violations, if left unchecked, could foster a culture of fear among journalists and discourage investigative reporting.
CEMESP further criticized attempts to weaken existing press freedom protections through proposed amendments to media laws.
The group raised alarm over emerging policies that impose non-disclosure obligations on civil servants, arguing that such measures could restrict the flow of information to the public.