Journalists were reporting on peaceful protest in defense of press freedom

Location: Guinea, Conakry
Date: October 16, 2023

During a peaceful protest on press freedom, a violent police crackdown resulted in the physical assault of ten journalists who were covering the event. Mariama Bhoye Barry, a reporter for Cavi TV, suffered an elbow injury due to tear gas grenades fired by the police. The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns the violent arrests of the journalists and demands that the charges against them be unconditionally dropped.  

"The mixed police and gendarmerie forces gassed us,"  says Abdouramane Diallo, a Guinea Press Professionals Union (SPPG) official, confirming that one journalist sustained injuries.

On October 16, a group of thirteen journalists covering a peaceful protest in Conakry, Guinea's capital, faced violent police attacks and were subsequently arrested. The protest was organized to advocate for press freedom and to express opposition against the prolonged blocking of the Guinée Matin news website, which has been inaccessible for more than two months.

Several journalists were physically assaulted and their cameras and sound recorders were damaged when the police forcefully broke up the protest. Mariama Bhoye Barry, a reporter for Cavi TV, a privately-owned TV news channel, sustained an elbow injury due to tear gas grenades fired by the police.

"But, all of a sudden, the police surrounded us and asked us to disperse, telling us that the gathering is illegal. So, we were chased down to the railway station. It happened there that they used force, firing tear gas canisters at us.” says Bhoye Barry recounting the incident. 

Sékou Jamal Pendessa, the general secretary of the Guinea Press Professionals Union (SPPG) and one of the demonstration organizers reported that he and two other journalists were arrested.

The journalists were taken to Kaloum police station and later appeared in court, charged with "criminal participation in an illegal gathering." They were ordered to appear in court again next week. After being held for more than seven hours, they were released.

Since mid-August, the Guinée Matin news website has been inexplicably blocked, with no reported technical issues, as confirmed by its general manager. SPPG holds the authorities, specifically Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, the minister of posts, telecommunications, and digital economy, who also serves as the military junta's spokesman, responsible for this obstruction. Diallo denied any involvement or responsibility in the blocking of the website. The situation raises concerns about potential censorship and restrictions on press freedom, warranting further investigation and transparency from the authorities.

The arbitrary and violent arrests on the journalists serve as a stark reminder of the challenges media professionals face in their tireless efforts to provide accurate and unbiased information to the public. It underscores the urgent need for authorities to respect and protect the rights of journalists, allowing them to carry out their work without fear of reprisal or censorship.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with the mistreated journalists. We condemn these violent acts and demand that all charges be immediately dropped. We emphasize the fundamental importance of press freedom and the critical role journalists play in upholding democracy and ensuring transparency. Press freedom is a fundamental pillar of democracy, and journalists play a crucial role in upholding transparency and accountability. We call on authorities to respect the rights of journalists and ensure their safety and freedom to report without fear of persecution or intimidation.

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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