During the day of Friday, October 4, 2024, security forces, accompanied by agents of the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPT) and the Regional Director of Information and Communication, carried out the closure of three private radio stations. These are the media Bouré FM, Baraka FM and Badrou Islam FM. According to our information, the Ministry of Information and Communication criticizes these media for operating without administrative authorization and without approval from the competent authorities, reports one of Guineematin.com’s correspondents based in the prefecture.
After Conakry, the Guinean capital, Kankan is the city with the most private radio stations. However, the case of these three radio stations has particularly attracted the attention of the authorities, because they broadcast without approval or authorization, we learn.
A source close to the matter, who requested anonymity, informed that the promoters of these radios had installed them without prior authorization. “It was the Ministry which contacted the ARPT to request the closure of these radio stations. ARPT agents came to Kankan, accompanied by law enforcement and the Regional Director of Information and Communication, to carry out this closure. For example, Bouré FM radio has been broadcasting in Kankan without approval for two or three years. It is authorized to broadcast in Siguiri, but not in Kankan. The promoter negotiated the frequency with the owner of the radio station in Siguiri, but the latter asked him to wait until he obtained the relay papers. However, he rushed things. For Badrou Islam FM, I do not know how this confessional radio obtained its frequency, but when the promoter [Karamo Fama Sanoh]president of the Badrou Islam association, informed the Regional Director of Information and Communication and invited him to visit the premises, who asked him not to broadcast before obtaining approval. However, the radio broadcasts from 10 p.m., when most people are already asleep. For Baraka FM, it is a radio which already broadcasts in Kindia and which belongs to Ibrahima Sory Cissé, interim Director General of Radio Rurale de Guinée. The person who brought this radio to Kankan did not follow the advice of the owner, who asked him to wait for administrative authorization before starting to broadcast. But he made announcements on Facebook and launched the broadcasts. The authorities are therefore within their rights to close these radio stations which do not respect any law. »
Questioned by our reporter, Ibrahima Barry, Director of Bouré FM, said: “It’s a document problem, we will reopen soon. »
Reached by telephone, Oumar Fofana, promoter of Baraka FM, said he was staying in Conakry and did not wish to comment.
Our attempts to contact Karamo Fama Sanoh, owner of Badrou Islam FM, were unsuccessful.
As for Mamadi Kansan Doumbouya, regional director of Information and Communication Kankan, he did not wish to react. He simply announced a press briefing in the coming days to enlighten public opinion.
In the meantime, these radio stations remain closed and are no longer broadcasting.
From Kankan, Abdoulaye N’koya SYLLA for Guineematin.com
