Guinea’s broadcast regulator has suspended pan-African news channel Africa 24 ahead of Sunday’s presidential election, a vote widely expected to be won by junta leader Mamady Doumbouya.
Africa 24, founded by Cameroonian journalist Constant Nemale, is the first international media outlet to be taken off air by Guinean authorities. The move comes amid a broader crackdown that has seen several local media organisations suspended or shut down in recent years.
In a statement issued late Sunday, the High Authority for Communication (HAC) accused Africa 24 of “operating illegally” by airing reports on the election campaign without prior authorisation. The regulator said the channel’s application for campaign accreditation was still under review but had been delayed due to the non-submission of required legal documents.
Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the suspension on Monday, describing it as “a disproportionate and hasty decision that deprives the public of access to diverse information.”
Guinea’s military-led government has frequently been accused of suppressing media freedom through outlet closures, broadcast bans and the arrest of journalists. RSF also recalled the disappearance of Habib Marouane Camara, editor of the Lerevelateur224 news site, who has been missing since December 2024 following what the group described as an abduction.
Since seizing power, Doumbouya has imposed tight restrictions on civil liberties. Protests have been banned since 2022, while opposition figures have been arrested, prosecuted or forced into exile. Reports of enforced disappearances have also increased.
Guinea, which gained independence in 1958, has a long history of military and authoritarian rule marked by repeated interventions. Despite its vast natural resources, the country remains among the poorest in the world.
