HAC Bans Three Nostalgie FM Journalists and their Show “Africa 2015”, for a Month

On September 23, 2022, the HAC released a statement suspending journalists Mamadou Maté Bah, Minkaïlou Barry and Kalil Camara from all radio and television broadcasts from September 23 to October 22, 2022. According to the regulator, they lacked professionalism and “violated the ethics and deontology of the journalist, as well as the code of good conduct of Guinean journalists” during an edition of the political show.  

The previous day, “Africa 2015” had hosted Sékou Koundouno, the head of strategy and planning for the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (Front national pour la défense de la constitution, FNDC), an influential political pressure group that was dissolved by the transitional government in August. Koundouno was commenting on the sanctions imposed on Guinea by ECOWAS and urging the transitional government to expedite the process of returning Guinea to constitutional democracy. 

According to the HAC, the FNDC activist had made remarks that could incite popular revolt and uttered public insults during the prime-time programme. It would be recalled that before its dissolution, the FNDC had held several meetings and called for demonstrations to demand a shorter transition period and an agenda for early elections. 

The HAC’s decision came as a surprise to the journalists who reported that they had not received any prior notification before the suspension. Kalil Camara, who is also the editor of the online media outlet kalenews.org, told the MFWA that they learned of the suspension on September 23 at about 5:50 p.m. as they were preparing to go on air at 6 p.m.