Guinea-Bissau - September 2025

On 25 September, Guinea-Bissau’s Supreme Court of Justice barred three radio stations—Rádio Capital FM, Rádio Voz de Quelelé, and Rádio Galáxia de Pindjiguiti—from covering a press conference held at its headquarters. The event was convened to explain the Court’s controversial decision to reject the candidacy of the PAI–Terra Ranka coalition in the 23 November elections. Journalists from the three stations were initially admitted but later singled out and ordered to leave by a court staffer without explanation. Press freedom groups, including the Media Foundation for West Africa and the Guinean League for Human Rights (LGDH), condemned the move as ‘arbitrary’ and ‘unprecedented’, warning it silences journalists and undermines citizens’ right to free, plural, and transparent information during a critical electoral period. The national journalists’ union (SINJOTECS) called the decision a violation of the right to information. Civil society actors have urged the Court to explain its actions and guarantee equal access to public information for all media.

Sources: The Media Foundation for West Africa, Guinean League for Human Rights (1), Guinean League for Human Rights (2), Deutsche Welle