Guinea-Bissau: Women Press Freedom Condemns Crackdown on Press, Including Barring of Fátima Tchuma Camará and Indira Correia Baldé From Presidential Palace

President Embaló escalates media threats by directing Guinea-Bissau’s interior ministry to establish “brigades” to monitor radio broadcasts and arrest people deemed insulting

Location: Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Date: February 8, 2024

Women Press Freedom is deeply alarmed by the recent surge of actions against press freedom in Guinea-Bissau, marked notably by President Umaro Sissoco Embaló's directives that undermine the fundamental principles of free expression and media independence. These concerning developments include the establishment of "brigades" by Guinea-Bissau's interior ministry to monitor and police radio broadcasts, and the specific barring of journalists Fátima Tchuma Camará and Indira Correia Baldé from the presidential palace, effectively silencing critical voices and restricting access to information. The targeting of Camará and Baldé, who have faced not only professional obstacles but also personal attacks in the form of online harassment, is indicative of a broader campaign to intimidate and discredit the media. Such acts of censorship, alongside the escalating aggression against press members, create a media landscape that is both hostile and repressive. The online vilification of these journalists, including threats and the use of sexualized language to undermine their credibility, is particularly concerning and demands immediate action. We call on President Embaló to retract his threatening statements against the media and guarantee the safeguarding of press freedom to uphold democratic principles. 

Amid escalating political tensions in Guinea-Bissau, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has issued alarming statements targeting the media. The president directed Guinea-Bissau’s interior ministry to establish “brigades” to oversee radio programs and detain people deemed insulting. Furthermore, he accused journalists of aligning with the “opposition” and pledged to quash the disorder permitting anyone to act as a political commentator on the radio.

Additionally, the presidential communication advisor has prohibited journalists Fátima Tchuma Camará and Indira Correia Baldé from reporting on events at the nation's presidential palace.

The acts of censorship and the escalating online harassment against press members have fostered a media environment in Guinea-Bissau described as "hostile and suffocating" by Baldé.  Baldé, an RTP journalist and president of the local union SINJOTECS, was targeted with rape threats on Olho Clínico Guine-Bissau, a Facebook page with more than 6,300 followers purportedly operated by people professing allegiance to Embaló.

Baldé and Camará were further accused of being mouthpieces for the opposition on Abel Djassi, another Facebook page managed by people asserting their support for Embaló and boasting over 3,600 followers. The page targeted their credibility, disparaged them, and utilized sexualized language as a means of denigration.

In late November 2023, the nation’s national guard, believed to be loyal to the opposition-led parliament, engaged in a firefight with the military. President Embaló labeled these events as an attempted coup. Days later, Embaló announced the dissolution of parliament. Consequently, armed men raided the offices of the state-owned television and radio stations, with Embaló reportedly ordering government officials to monitor radio broadcasts for any content deemed insulting.

On December 4, 2023, approximately 30 armed men in military uniform raided the state-owned broadcaster TVGB and the state-owned radio station Radiodifusão Nacional (RDN). The assailants, their faces concealed by hoods, ordered the broadcast to cease and all journalists to vacate the office. Both stations were off-air for several hours, with technicians instructed to play music and, later, an unedited news segment on the dissolution of parliament.

Tcherno Bari, the head of Guinea-Bissau’s presidential guard, visited RDN the following day, denying that the presidency was responsible for the previous day’s raid and program interruption. He attributed these incidents to an unspecified “other force” and assured RDN staffers they could continue working without fear.

Women Press Freedom conveys deep concern regarding the intimidation of Guinea-Bissau's media through armed raids and public threats. We stress the importance of unrestricted news coverage and diverse perspectives, particularly during a political crisis. We urge President Embaló to withdraw his threats against the media and abstain from leveraging state resources to shield himself from criticism. We call for a thorough investigation into the December raids on public media and other assaults on the press, as well as accountability for the individuals

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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