Military Takeover in Guinea-Bissau: Media Blackout Violates the Right to Information

On 26 November, the eve of the presidential and legislative election results, the military command announced it was taking control of Guinea-Bissau and suspended all media activities in the country until further notice. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns this act of censorship, which is a serious violation of the right to information.

“The media blackout in Guinea-Bissau is a serious violation of the right to information. The population must be able to keep up with what is happening in the country, particularly during this political crisis. RSF condemns this act of censorship, which leaves the door wide open to all kinds of rumours and disinformation. The protection and respect of the population’s right to information must prevail, and media outlets must be able to carry out their work freely and without risk of reprisals.

Sadibou Marong
Director, RSF Sub-Saharan Africa

Shortly before the announcement of the military coup, soldiers forcibly interrupted the broadcasts of Radio Sol Mansi, which is very popular in Bissau. Then, during his address to the nation, —- broadcast on Televisão da Guiné-Bissau — the head of the presidential military office, Denis N’Canha, announced the suspension of “all bodies of social communication” until further notice. Three Portuguese public-sector media outlets operating internationally — the radio station RTP Africa, the television channel RDP, and the press agency Agência Lusa — stopped broadcasting in Guinea-Bissau on 15 August after being suspended by the authorities in place at the time.