Guinea-Bissau Threatens Illegal Radio Broadcasters With Jail

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in African News April 13, 2022

The government of Guinea-Bissau has today threatened to jail or impose fines on private radio station operators. The government threatened to do this over non-payment of license fees in a move branded as an attack on press freedom.

The move follows the recent suspension of all private radio stations in the West African nation over unpaid fees.

Seventy-six out of 88 private stations broadcasting in Guinea-Bissau at the beginning of April were no longer on air on Tuesday according to reports.

The remaining 12 were allowed to continue operations after they paid a fee of about 380 euros.

On Tuesday, the government published a decree stating that stations that failed to pay and are still broadcasting are illegal. Furthermore, it stated wrongdoers shall face a prison sentence of up to three years or a corresponding fine.

Umaro Sante, a journalist and one of the managers of radio station Capital FM, said the government move marks “a step backwards in terms of press freedom and expression”.

“The government is sowing terror in the press with attacks on radio stations, beatings of journalists,” he told AFP.

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