The town of Coyah, located east of Conakry, has been experiencing intermittent electricity outages and internet disruptions for several days, causing frustration among residents. The outages have been accompanied by repeated power fluctuations, raising concerns about potential electrical problems. Protests erupted on October 27 and 28, with residents expressing their discontent with the situation.
Alsény Bangoura, a civil society actor and president of organizations in Coyah, has denounced the consequences of the outages on citizens' living conditions and the lack of response from Électricité de Guinée (EDG), the state-owned electricity company. He emphasized that electricity is essential for daily life, economic activities, and preserving quality of life. Bangoura cited the difficulties faced by residents, particularly at night, due to the heat and inability to conserve food.
The civil society actor also highlighted the impact of the outages on residents, including women who have to throw away perishable food due to lack of refrigeration and children who cry at night due to the heat. Bangoura called on the authorities and EDG to address the situation and respond to citizens' concerns. He emphasized the need for a solution to the electricity crisis in Coyah, which affects not only residents but also economic activities.
El Hadj Momo Bangoura, the mayor of Coyah, has appealed for calm and condemned the protests and roadblocks that took place on October 27 and 28. While acknowledging the difficulties with electricity supply, the mayor disapproved of the violent demonstrations. He argued that EDG is facing difficulties, but did not specify the causes. The mayor also announced that sensitization sessions are underway with residents, mosque leaders, and neighborhood chiefs to prevent further incidents.
Alsény Bangoura also expressed frustration with EDG's lack of response to concerns raised by civil society actors. He claimed that alerts transmitted to EDG and its workers about problems faced by residents have not received adequate attention. Bangoura believes that this lack of response contributes to the growing discontent among Coyah residents. He advocated for a more dialogical approach between EDG and citizens to prevent tensions.
Internet disruptions have also affected Coyah, with a 24-hour outage recorded from October 25 to 26. Bangoura denounced the restriction of citizens' access to communication means and called on authorities to take measures to alleviate the situation. He questioned why citizens are being deprived of their right to communication and cited examples of neighboring countries, such as Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, which have developed fiber optic infrastructure.
An Orange Guinée agent attributed the internet disruptions in Coyah to fiber optic cable cuts caused by road construction work. The repeated electricity outages, power fluctuations, and communication disruptions have significantly impacted daily life and economic activities in Coyah. Residents and civil society actors are calling for urgent solutions to address these challenges.
Key points
- Repeated electricity outages and internet disruptions have sparked protests in Coyah, Guinea, affecting residents' daily lives and economic activities.
- Civil society actors are calling for a more dialogical approach between Électricité de Guinée (EDG) and citizens to address the electricity crisis.
- Authorities are urged to take measures to guarantee citizens' access to regular and reliable internet and communication services.
