4 private radio stations closed in Kankan: “Fraternité FM, Badroudine FM, Baraka FM and Bouré FM broadcast in violation of the law”

These are not three (3) but four (4) private radio stations which were closed by the authorities in the urban commune of Kankan. The details were given this Wednesday, October 9, 2024, by the Regional Director of Information and Communication of Kankan through a press conference. According to Mamady Kansan Doumbouya, this closure has nothing to do with a restriction of press freedom, especially since the said media were broadcasting completely illegally, reports one of Guineematin.com’s correspondents through one of its reporters.

In his speech, Mamadi Kansan Doumbouya gave the names of the media affected by this closure, namely Fraternité FM, Badroudine FM, Baraka FM and Bouré FM.

After regretting the fact that the promoters of these radio stations use their influence to continue to challenge State authority, the Regional Director of Information and Communication first recalled the missions and responsibilities of his management, placed under the technical control of the Ministry of Information and Communication. “This is indeed what we observed following a discreet inspection carried out in the town of Kankan. Four radio stations broadcast in violation of Guinean legislation, in accordance with the law. These are :

1. Fraternité FM, belonging to a former trade unionist from Mamou (Sidi Diallo, editor’s note), who began broadcasting in Kankan without prior authorization, therefore without any administrative document.
2. Badroudine FM broadcast illegally in the town of Kankan. Its founder, a preacher, claims his station is in the testing phase.
3. Baraka FM, based in Kindia, installed an unauthorized relay in Kankan without the owner’s consent. The latter told us, by telephone, that he was in talks to regularize all administrative documents with the Ministry of Information and Communication.
4. The last case concerns Bouré FM, which also broadcast illegally in Kankan without supporting documents. The station was to broadcast exclusively in the Siguiri area. Balla Camara, its CEO, claims not to have been associated with its establishment in Kankan. »

In addition, Mamadi Kansan Doumbouya explained that faced with these irregularities and in the desire to regulate a sector as sensitive as that of the press, the decision to close was necessary. “In view of all these shortcomings and anxious to regulate a sector as sensitive as the press, we have taken appropriate measures. I would like to clarify that these sanctions have no link with what some might perceive as a restriction of press freedom or any witch hunt. As the authority responsible for the sector in the region, I reaffirm that the doors of the regional information and communication directorate remain open to all requests from media promoters,” he suggested.

Concerning Bouré FM, which has been broadcasting in Kankan for three years, the Regional Director of Information and Communication specified that he took office when the radio was already installed. As for Badroudine FM, which broadcasts on frequency 95.0, Mamadi Kansan Doumbouya says he does not know how the promoter obtained this frequency.

From Kankan, Abdoulaye N’koya SYLLA for Guineematin.com