CONAKRY: After three months of imposed restrictions on internet access, the military authorities in Guinea have lifted the ban, residents said on Friday, a move that follows protests and pressure from trade unions.
The decision to restore internet access came a day after unions in the West African nation announced an unlimited general strike starting Monday, urging the ruling junta to release a prominent media activist, lower food prices, and reopen internet access.
The military, which took power in a coup in 2021, had cited security concerns as the reason for implementing the internet restrictions. Moreover, on Monday, they dissolved the transitional government, which had been in place since July 2022, without providing a clear explanation, further escalating tensions.
Despite international pressure to return power to elected civilians by the end of 2024, the junta has been accused of authoritarian tendencies by the opposition. Journalists have been vocal in their protests against media censorship, with major television channels blocked and radio frequencies jammed.
Sekou Jamal Pendessa, secretary-general of the Union of Press Professionals of Guinea (SPPG), was arrested in January for participating in an unauthorized protest, prompting demands from unions for his immediate release. A court was scheduled to decide on Friday whether he should be jailed for six months, as per prosecutors’ request.
Protests have been banned since 2022 by the military, which ousted elected president Alpha Conde in September 2021. The sudden resumption of internet access surprised many in Guinea and triggered a flurry of social media activity.
Critics pointed out the restoration of internet access as evidence of the government’s responsiveness to pressure, emphasizing the need for assertive action in effecting change.
