On 26 August 2026, Africa Young Voices (AYV) Managing Director Umaru Fofana disclosed a reported cyberattack, saying their media organisation’s digital platforms had been compromised by unidentified individuals. He stated this major cyberattack targeted AYV’s website and news application, shortly after the media organisation published reports on the intensified search by Sierra Leone’s security authorities for Jos Leijdekkers and Umarr Sheriff. AYV had been reporting on ongoing efforts by the country’s security sector to locate the two individuals amid heightened public and security interest in the case.
In addition, Fofana said AYV’s technical teams based in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world are actively investigating the incident and working to restore the affected website and news application as quickly as possible. He described the reported cyberattack as a serious infringement on press freedom and the ability of journalists and media organisations to freely publish information in the public interest.
AYV has not publicly identified those responsible for the reported attack, and no evidence has been provided to date to establish the perpetrators’ identity or motive. Despite the disruption to its digital platforms, AYV Media Empire said it remains committed to journalism, press freedom and keeping the public informed.