Dr. Chernoh Alpha M. Bah, the Chabraja Postdoctoral Fellow in Public Service at Northwestern University, is facing threats and harassment for his investigation and work for the Africanist Press into alleged corruption and financial crimes by the Sierra Leone government. The Committee is concerned Bah is facing retribution and threats from the government and its allies in response. The Committee is asking Secretary Blinken to intervene.
https://africanistpress.com/academics-condemn-attacks-on-sierra-leones-endangered-historian-and-journalist/
July 29, 2024
Anthony John Blinken
Secretary of State
Department of State
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Secretary Blinken,
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We are writing in regard to Dr. Chernoh Alpha M. Bah, the Chabraja Postdoctoral Fellow in Public Service and a West Africa historian at Northwestern University’s Charbraja Center for Historical Studies. He is also a journalist and the editor-in-chief of the Africanist Press with twenty years of experience working on corruption and human rights issues in Africa. Recently, he has been subjected to death threats and harassment for his investigation into alleged financial crimes and corruption in the government of Sierra Leone. He has also been warned against returning to Sierra Leone, preventing him from doing archival and oral history research.
The Committee is concerned these threats and harassment are retribution by the government and groups allied with it against Dr. Bah for writing a critical analysis of the government given his large, young audience. For example, in early May 2022, the Office of National Security (ONS), part of Sierra Leone’s Office of the President, complained the Africanist Press was trying to stir up dissatisfaction with the military which could lead to civil unrest. This led to death threats and calls for prosecution on social media as well as a member of the ruling party accusing the Africanist Press of treason.
The Committee is concerned about Dr. Bah’s safety and his academic freedom. Since he is in the U.S. on a visa issued by the State Department, we request you work towards obtaining a guarantee from Sierra Leone that his life would not be in danger if he returned to his country, or grant Bah a permanent residency status in the U.S. We hope that you will be able to use the friendly relationship, including financial support, between Sierra Leone and the U.S. towards this aim.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists