As Guinea prepares to hold a constitutional referendum on 21 September, providing the electorate an opportunity vote on whether the country should return to civilian rule, ARTICLE 19 is deeply concerned about the shrinking of civic and political space in the country, marked by repressive measures targeting the media and political parties. The suspension of political parties and recent suspension of private media outlets are repressive and disproportionate measures that contravene both domestic laws and international norms and standards. ARTICLE 19 urges the transitional authorities in Guinea, who took power in September 2021 following a coup d’etat, to lift all repressive measures and to foster an open civic and political space where all voices are heard.
On 22 August 2025, Guinean authorities suspended three political parties, the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), the Rally of the People of Guinea (RPG), and the Party for Renewal and Progress (PRP), from engaging in all political activities, including organising meetings, demonstrations, and running electoral campaigns. This decision came five months after it suspended 28 political parties on 14 March 2025.
On 29 August 2025, the High Authority for Communication (HAC) banned private media outlets from providing live broadcasts or providing a platform for any suspended or dissolved political party, issuing a directive that all content about the 21 September referendum would be strictly regulated. On 2 September, the authority lifted some restrictions on media, but the ban on the website Guinee360.com, a reliable source of independent news and information, remains in place.
On 1 September, HAC suspended access to the website Guinee360.com for three months, until 1 December 2025, citing ‘professional shortcomings’ and ‘manipulation of information’ in connection with its coverage of the constitutional referendum campaign.
‘Guinea’s decisions prohibiting suspended political parties from speaking, rigidly controlling private media coverage, and suspending Guinee360.com for alleged “professional shortcomings” or “manipulation of information” constitute serious violations of international human rights law, as well as of principles enshrined in regional standards. These measures are based on ambiguous legal grounds, lack proportionality, display no procedural transparency nor avenue for appeal, and emanate from a regulatory authority whose independence is compromised by direct executive appointments,” stated Alfred Nkuru Bulakali, Regional Director of ARTICLE 19 Senegal and West Africa.
Violating Guinea’s international commitments
As a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Guinea has a duty to protect, respect and uphold Articles 19 (freedom of expression), 22 (freedom of association), and 25 (political participation). Restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and association are only permitted under the strict requirements of Articles 19 and 22 respectively. They must be clearly prescribed by law, pursue a legitimate aim, and be necessary and proportionate. The right to political participation must be guaranteed without discrimination and cannot be subject to unreasonable restrictions. In addition, the Human Rights Committee, in General Comment No. 25 on the right to participate in public affairs, affirmed that ‘the full enjoyment and respect for the rights guaranteed in Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the Covenant, including freedom to engage in political activity individually or through political parties and other organisations, freedom to debate public affairs, to hold peaceful demonstrations and meetings, to criticise and oppose, to publish political material, to campaign for election and to advertise political ideas’.
The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which Guinea also ratified, requires the recognition and protection of the rights of political parties in a democratic multiparty system. Furthermore, the jurisprudence of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, notably the judgment in Tanganyika Law Society & Others v. Tanzania, found that the total prohibition of independent candidacies that do not belong to political parties was incompatible with freedom of association and political participation.
In line with the above, Guinea must uphold its human rights obligations, which include refraining from imposing any arbitrary or disproportionate on the right to public participation.
In addition, we emphasise that a free and independent press is essential to the functioning of the rule of law, civic education, participatory governance, and social cohesion. In addition to the ICCPR and the African Charter on Human Rights, the Guinean Constitution explicitly guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of the press (Article 10). These rights are further enshrined in the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa and in the Windhoek+30 Declaration. Both declarations underscore the imperative of preserving media independence and stipulate that any sanction imposed on media activities must comply with strict standards of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
For further information, please contact :
ARTICLE 19 West Africa
Maateuw Mbaye, Programme Officer/Protection & Civic Space
E: [email protected] ; Mobile: +221785958337
Office line: +221338690322
E: [email protected]