Guinea - May 2024

The erosion of press freedom continued in Guinea as media regulators revoked the operating licenses of six privately-owned independent broadcasters – four radio stations and two TV channels – citing “non-compliance with the content of the specifications”, without providing further detail. The media outlets are some of the most watched and listened to in the country and are known to be critical of the government.  The six outlets, along with two others, have been jammed in Guinea since December 2023, when authorities quoted national security imperatives as justification for imposing the restrictions.  The revocation of licenses – made public on 22 May - escalates the situation. The media outlets have filed an appeal with the media regulators for the decision to be annulled.  Several rights watchdogs have called on the Guinean authorities to reverse these measures and protect freedom of the press. These events represent an intensification of repression of media freedom and restrictions of the access to information observed over the past year.

Sources: Committee to Protect Journalists, Guinée Matin, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Voice of America (1), Voice of America (2), Le Monde, Guinean Ministry of Information and Communication, International IDEA