On January 18, 2024, the Union of Press Professionals of Guinea (SPPG) and other stakeholders invited journalists to the Maison de la Presse de Guinée to protest against the military junta’s restrictions on the media. However, as journalists arrived, gendarmes intervened, arresting nine of them before eventually releasing them later in the evening.
The protest, organized by the SPPG, aimed to draw attention to internet restrictions and the ongoing jamming of several radio and television stations, including Espace, Évasion, Djoma, and FIM, which have been unable to broadcast since October 2023. News website Guineematin.com has faced similar restrictions since mid-August.
Security forces preemptively disrupted the demonstration, surrounding the venue and preventing organizers from taking their protest to the streets. The journalists arrested were identified as Foulamory Bah (Courrier de Conakry), Saa Alou Yombouno (Kaback TV), Mohamed Émile Soumah (Kaback TV), Mikaïlou Diallo (Le Vérificateur.net), Djiwo Bah (Libre Afrik), Naby Laye Camara (Djoma Médias), Aboubacar Touré (Africavision7.com), Favela Diawara (Tabouleinfos), and Djéli Mady Kouyaté, Managing Director of Évasion media group.
According to Abdoulaye Cissé, Director of Communication for the SPPG, all nine journalists were summoned to appear before a prosecutor the next day, accused of violating the ban on public protests. However, they were eventually discharged without any conditions.
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