On March 12, 2026, Guinea’s High Authority for Communication (HAC) announced the suspension of two news websites, Africaturemedia.com and Guineesource.com, along with their associated content-sharing platforms, for a period of three months.
The decision relates to coverage of violent clashes between young people from Guinea and Liberia in Kiéssènèye, a border town in the prefecture of Guéckédou in southern Guinea. The incident occurred on March 11 amid tensions over a disputed strip of land between the two countries. The situation formed part of a broader escalation that included an exchange of gunfire, which reportedly left at least one person injured, prompting calls for calm and ongoing diplomatic engagement between Guinea and Liberia.
According to the HAC, the two platforms published and amplified images and commentary, including live footage of the clashes, which it considers to be sensationalist and capable of fuelling cross-border violence. The regulator maintains that the dissemination of such content contributed to escalating tensions in an already volatile context and presents the decision as a preventive measure in light of the fragility of the situation.
In addition to suspending the websites, the HAC imposed six-month suspensions on two individuals associated with the platforms, Saa Edouard Tinguiano of Africaturemedia.com and Foromo Lamah of Guineesource.com. The authority identifies them as responsible for producing and disseminating the contested content, and notes that they do not hold professional press cards.
The HAC based its decision on provisions of the 2010 press law and the 2020 law governing its mandate and operations. This is the first known instance of the HAC suspending online media platforms in Guinea’s southern region in connection with coverage of cross-border tensions.
While recognising that the publication of graphic or inflammatory content in conflict situations can heighten risks and raises ethical concerns, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is concerned about the severity of the sanctions imposed.
MFWA notes that responses to such ethical lapses should be proportionate and carefully calibrated. Measures such as proportionate fines, content removal, corrections, or retractions may, in many cases, adequately address harm without resorting to extended suspensions that limit the public’s access to information.
The organisation therefore urges the HAC to ensure that its regulatory actions remain necessary, proportionate, and consistent with the principles of press freedom.
