CPJ, partners urge Guinea-Bissau to improve press freedom ahead of UN review
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined two other press freedom organizations in calling on authorities in Guinea-Bissau to accept and implement recommendations to improve its press freedom record at the country’s January 2025 Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR is a peer review mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council, through which the human…
Guinea Bissau president swears at journalist as media freedom declines
New York, August 29, 2024—Amid political tension in Guinea-Bissau following President Umaro Sissoco Embaló’s dissolution of parliament in December, it was only natural for radio journalist Ussumane Mané to ask the West African leader a question that was on everyone’s lips: will there be a presidential election this year? Embaló, a former army general who…
Guinea-Bissau president threatens media, 30 armed men raid 2 state broadcasters
New York, February 16, 2024—Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló must withdraw his recent statements denigrating and threatening the media and ensure a credible investigation into two armed raids on public broadcasters and other recent attacks on the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. CPJ also calls on Embaló to guarantee that journalists will…
Guinea-Bissau’s Radio Capital FM silenced by authorities over licensing dispute
New York, April 27, 2023–Authorities in Guinea-Bissau should immediately allow the privately owned Radio Capital FM back on air and not use the late payment of license fees as a pretext to silence a critical media outlet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. In a January 9 letter, the Ministry of Media ordered Radio…
Guinea-Bissau presidential security officer attacks radio commentator Marcelino Intupe
On November 29, 2022, a group of men including the head of security for Guinea-Bissau’s president abducted Marcelino Intupe from his home and assaulted him, according to media reports and Intupe, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Earlier that day, during his weekly commentary slot on the current affairs radio show Alô Guiné (Hello…
Guinea-Bissau journalist goes into hiding after armed men seek to arrest him
On October 10, 2022, armed men in police uniform arrived at privately owned Rádio Galáxia de Pindjiguiti in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, to arrest Tiano Badjana, the station’s acting director. When they could not find him, they continued to his home, prompting the journalist to go into hiding, according to media reports and the journalist,…
Armed men again raid Guinea-Bissau broadcaster Radio Capital FM, destroy equipment
New York, February 8, 2022 — Authorities in Guinea Bissau must thoroughly investigate the latest attack on broadcaster Radio Capital FM, ensure the safety of its staff, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. At around 10 a.m. on Monday, a group of about four unidentified men fired guns…
Guinea-Bissau coast guard officer assaults radio journalist Emerson Gomes
On July 21, 2021, a Guinea-Bissau Coast Guard officer assaulted and detained Emerson Gomes, a presenter and trainee journalist at Djan-Djan Community Radio in Bubaque, a town in the country’s Bijagos archipelago, accusing the outlet of spreading false news, according to a media report and Gomes, who spoke to CPJ by phone. Gomes said he…
Radio Capital FM journalists face criminal defamation investigation in Guinea-Bissau
Lisbon, April 7, 2021 — Authorities in Guinea-Bissau should drop their criminal defamation investigation into the privately owned broadcaster Radio Capital FM and two of its journalists, and reform its defamation laws, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 9, the public prosecutor’s office issued a summons to Radio Capital FM asking for…
Journalist Adão Ramalho assaulted, escapes abduction attempt in Guinea-Bissau
Lisbon, March 30, 2021 — Authorities in Guinea-Bissau should investigate the assault and attempted abduction of journalist Adão Ramalho, and ensure that those responsible are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 12, in the capital, Bissau, five armed men in plain clothes attacked and tried to abduct Ramalho, a…