Supreme Court Bars Three Radio Stations from Press Conference on Electoral Decision

On September 25, 2025, Guinea-Bissau’s Supreme Court of Justice (STJ) barred three radio stations from covering a press conference at its headquarters. The press conference was convened to clarify the Court’s rejection of a major political coalition’s candidacy in the November 23 elections.

Journalists from Rádio Capital FM, Rádio Voz de Quelelé, and Rádio Galáxia de Pindjiguiti were initially admitted to the conference hall, only to be singled out and ordered to leave by a court staff member, who gave no explanation for the exclusion. One of the journalists, Quebo Dabo of Rádio Capital, explained that “before the press conference began, a staff member started identifying journalists by their media houses and instructed us three to leave, without any justification.”

The action has provoked strong condemnation with several civil society groups voicing alarm. The Liga Guineense dos Direitos Humanos (Guinean League for Human Rights – LGDH) described the move as a direct affront to press freedom, stressing that by silencing journalists, the Supreme Court of Justice undermines citizens’ right to free, pluralistic, and transparent information.