APA- Conakry (Guinea) – Plans are afoot for a protest by journalists in Guinea against what they see as an attack on press freedom.
By Aboubacar Siddy Diallo
Several media outlets have been restricted ahead of the mass demonstrations in Conakry and the interior.
These restrictions initially targeted the online media, with many publishers experiencing difficulties in accessing digital platforms.
Some of them reported difficulties in feeding their websites properly. Readers also complained of difficulties in accessing news websites for information.
According to Boubacar 1 Diallo, publishing director of the Africaguinee.com, these restrictions began on the eve of the 10 May demonstration called by some political goups.
“On several occasions, we had serious difficulties accessing our dashboard to publish articles online. At first, we thought it was a technical problem. But after listening to the complaints of other colleagues, we realised that this was a deliberate act. For us, only the state services could be behind this act,” the head of the media outlet told APA.
In addition to the online media, two private radio stations belonging to the Afrik Vision press group had their transmitters confiscated by gendarmes.
The raid took place on Wednesday 17 May. The gendarmes were accompanied by officials from the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPT), a state institution under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy.
Press organisations and associations in Guinea have spoken out against what they see as an attack on freedom of expression and the press.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday 18 May, seven (7) press associations denounced “these liberticidal actions of the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority against the Guinean media.”
“These actions, which began with the appointment of Mr Mamady Doumbouya as Director General of the ARPT, consisted first of slowing down and then blocking access to the main Guinean news sites,” they said.
They have continued since Wednesday 17 May with the slowing down or even blocking of access to some social media platforms, including Facebook and WhattsApp, and a raid by the gendarmes on the Afric Vision press group to dismantle the transmitters of the Sabari FM and Love FM radio stations.
“The press associations condemn this censorship, which is a step backwards for democracy. They reserve the right to take legal action against the ARPT for the enormous damage suffered,” they added.
They also decided not to participate in the National Week of Information and Communication Professions organised by the Guinean government.
“The press associations plan to take other measures in the coming hours,” said the seven associations that signed the declaration.
The government spokesman, at the end of the ordinary Council of Ministers, recalled that the exercise of freedom of the press in Guinea is framed by a commitment to ethics, so that Guineans are informed objectively, but not set against one another, communities, one against another.
“If a media outlet violates these rules, we take steps to close it down in broad daylight. We are very lenient on the failure of some media to meet their financial obligations,” he said.
The minister assured that “we will be adamant about respect for national unity and the objective information that is transmitted.” “If a media outlet fails in this responsibility, we will close it down,” he threatened.
According to the 2022 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) world press freedom index, Guinea down from 2021 ranks 85th.
ASD/ac/lb/as/APA
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