Guinean Journalist Suspended for Comments on Protest Victims

Conakry, Guinea – The High Authority for Communication (HAC) has suspended journalist Ibrahima Lincoln Soumah, host of the popular Mirador program on FIM FM, for seven days, from August 22 to 29, 2022.

The regulatory body accused Soumah of failing to demonstrate social responsibility after he stated on air that most of the protesters killed during a peaceful demonstration belonged to the Fula ethnic group, citing common surnames such as Diallo, Bah, and Sow.

While the HAC deemed these remarks inappropriate, the journalist has received strong backing from listeners who describe him as “a journalist of the people of Guinea.” His suspension has sparked concerns over press freedom and the role of regulatory authorities in policing media discourse.