Journalists who have fled Guinea to escape persecution are still being targeted, with their families back home facing threats and intimidation. Mamoudou Babila Keïta, co-founder of the news site Inquisiteur.net, revealed that his 76-year-old father, Elhadj Adama Keïta, was abducted by unidentified men in September 2025 and has been missing ever since. Keïta, who has been in exile since July 2024, believes the abduction was intended to silence him.
The abduction of Keïta's father is not an isolated incident. Several other journalists in exile have reported similar threats and intimidation tactics being used against their families. One journalist, who wished to remain anonymous, reported receiving threats against his wife and children after fleeing to France in 2024. He claimed that individuals close to the ruling party, possibly military personnel, had called his wife, threatening to harm his family if he did not cease his reporting.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned these persecutions and called on the Guinean authorities to take immediate action to stop them. RSF's Africa desk responsible for advocacy, Jeanne Lagarde, stated that the kidnapping of Keïta's father illustrates the gravity of these pressures and urged the authorities to investigate the incident. Lagarde also expressed concern that the exiled journalists' families were being used as leverage to silence them.
The situation for journalists in Guinea has become increasingly dire since the Committee for National Rally and Development (CNRD) took power. Many journalists have been forced into exile, with some reporting repeated threats and intimidation. Abdoul Latif Diallo, founder of the online newspaper Dépêche Guinée, was suspended for six months and his media outlet for nine months by the regulatory body, Haute autorité de la communication (HAC), in January 2024.
Despite the risks, many exiled journalists continue to report on Guinean affairs. Abdoulaye Oumou Sow, founder of Kouma Media, which was suspended by the authorities in January 2026, has continued to investigate and report on sensitive topics from his exile in France. However, he has faced repeated threats, including a recent incident in which an individual called him, detailing his movements in Paris and warning him to remain silent on social media.
The Guinean authorities have been criticized for their inaction in addressing these persecutions. RSF has urged the authorities to take concrete steps to protect journalists and their families, and to investigate the incidents of persecution. However, the government's spokesperson, Faya François Bourouno, and deputy spokesperson, Moussa Moïse Sylla, did not respond to requests for comment.
The continued persecution of journalists in exile has raised concerns about the state of press freedom in Guinea. Many journalists have been forced to abandon their homes and livelihoods to escape the threats and intimidation. As Abdoul Latif Diallo noted, those who remain in Guinea are often too afraid to report on sensitive topics, leaving it to exiled journalists to fill the gap.
Key points
- Journalists in exile from Guinea face continued persecution, with families being targeted and threatened.
- The Guinean authorities have been criticized for their inaction in addressing these persecutions.
- Exiled journalists continue to report on Guinean affairs despite the risks, with many facing repeated threats and intimidation.
