Missing Guinea journalist: dozens in African media call for truth
On 3 December 2024, presumed gendarmes arrested Guinean journalist Habib Marouane Camara and took him to an unknown destination. There has been no news of him since.
After an unbearable six-month wait, 105 African journalists and press freedom organisations brought together by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) are asking Guinea’s authorities: Where is Habib Marouane Camara?
The owner and manager of the news website, Le Révélateur 224, Camara was on his way to businessman Kerfalla Person Camara’s home in Lambanyi, a suburb of the capital, Conakry, at around 8pm on 3 December when a police pick-up truck intercepted his vehicle.
Armed men in gendarme uniforms beat him unconscious and then drove away with him, according to information obtained by RSF. Neither his colleagues, his family nor the journalistic community have heard from him during the six months since this violent abduction.
Brought together by RSF, 94 African journalists and 11 press freedom organisations are issuing a call to the Guinean authorities to speak publicly and clearly about this matter and to do everything possible to free this journalist
He is ill and requires daily medication, according to his wife.
The list of those who have signed this appeal includes leading African media figures such as
Pap Saine, Editor of the Gambian newspaper, The Point
Fisayo Soyombo, Founder and Editor of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) in Nigeria, and
Antoine Kaburahe, Founder of the Iwacu press group in Burundi
Organisations that defend journalists’ rights are also alarmed about Camara’s plight and have joined RSF in this solidarity initiative, as have the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Media Alliance for Human Rights in Guinea (AMDH).
‘Six months after … Camara’s abduction … the journalistic community still wonders about his whereabouts and state of health. This appeal by more than 100 leading African media figures and press freedom organisations is addressed to the Guinean authorities,’ said Sadibou Marong, Director of RSF’s Sub-Saharan Africa bureau.
‘Silence is not an answer. It is their duty to do everything possible to shed full light on this journalist’s fate. Where is he? They must respond. He must be reunited with his loved ones immediately.’
While the exact reason for his abduction is still unknown, Camara is widely regarded as a very outspoken media critic of Guinea’s military government. He often questioned the military authorities and, in particular, raised the issue of the enforced disappearances of activists Foniké Menguè and Mamadou Billo Bah in his Facebook posts.
He co-hosted a show on Djoma TV and Djoma FM before they were banned from broadcasting in May 2024.
A few days before his abduction, the journalist’s lawyers said he had /received threats of imminent kidnapping from a group of unknown individuals’.
Restrictions on Guinea’s media
RSF has been doing its best to locate Camara ever since his abduction. As part of its efforts, RSF contacted the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), Africa’s leading human rights body.
On 3 May, RSF addressed the Commission in Banjul, asking it to press the Guinean government for a response with regard to Camara’s fate.
Camara’s disappearance comes at a time of great concern for the media in Guinea. Despite giving undertakings to the contrary, the authorities stripped four radio stations and two privately-owned TV channels of their operating licences in a completely illegal manner in May 2024
Guinea is the country that fell most in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index this year. After plunging 25 places, it is now ranked 103rd out of 180 countries.
The appeal of the 105 journalists and press freedom organisations
Where is Habib Marouane Camara?
We, journalists and press freedom organisations across the African continent, alarmed by the situation of our colleague Habib Marouane Camara, are appealing to the Guinean authorities.
At the time of writing, it has been six months since the owner and general administrator of the news website, Le Révélateur 224, was abducted and taken to an unknown location, far from his loved ones, who have had no news of him.
Habib Marouane Camara was simply doing his job as a journalist when he was violently dragged from his car and abducted by armed men in police uniforms, outside of any legal framework. Since then, the entire profession has been paralysed.
We are concerned about the consequences of this journalist’s disappearance for his health, as he suffers from an illness that requires daily medication.
We are also concerned about his disappearance and its consequences on press freedom and the right to information in Guinea
The abduction and enforced disappearance of Habib Marouane Camara constitute a serious violation of the principles of press freedom in a country that has ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and recognises the right to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and the right of access to public information.
Such a situation is intolerable. After six months, it is high time that the authorities publicly take up this case and make it a priority. They must shed light on this abduction and do everything in their power to ensure that Habib Marouane Camara is released and reunited with his family safe and sound.
We, journalists and press freedom organisations across the African continent, are launching this appeal to the Guinean authorities. Hear our message.
Signatories
Journalists:
- Simon Allison, co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Continent (South Africa)
- Emsie Ferreira, Editor of the Mail & Guardian (South Africa)
- Anton Harber, journalist and Executive Director of the Campaign for Free Expression (South Africa)
- Sam Sole, Managing Partner of the AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism (South Africa)
- Fiacre Vidjingninou, Director of the FV Partners Group and a correspondent for Le Point (Bénin)
- Pesce Hounyo, Editor-in-Chief of Reporter Bénin Monde
- Ernest Moloi, Chief Sub-Editor of the Botswana Guardian
- Yvonne Mooka, correspondent for the BBC and the New York Times (Botswana)
- Aimé Kobo Nabaloum, investigative journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Le Reporter (Burkina Faso)
- Antoine Kaburahe (as described above)
- Abbas Mbazumutima, Editor-in-Chief of Iwacu (Burundi)
- Emmanuel Savio Ekouli, Direction of Publications at La Voix du Centre (Cameroon)
- Maria da Luz Neves, journalist at Televisão de Cabo Verde
- Filomena Silva (Cabo Verde)
- Vianney Ingasso (Central African Republic)
- Jean-Fernand Koena, journalist at la Radio Ndeke Luka and Vice President of L’Union des Journalistes de Centrafrique (Central African Republic)
- Abdou Moustoifa, journalist at Al-Watwan and Reuters correspondent (Comores)
- Soulé Youssouf Faïza, journalist and correspondent (Comores)
- Giscard Mahoungou (Congo Brazzaville)
- Marna Julie Mankene, Director of Information at Vox Congo (Congo Brazzaville)
- Jean-Claude Coulibaly, President of the Union Nationale des Journalistes de Côte d’Ivoire
- Seriba Koné, journalist and President of L’Organisation Nationale des journalistes de Côte d’Ivoire
- Noël Konan, Editor of l’Etau.net (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Yao Noël, President of L’Union des Journalistes de la Presse Libre Africaine (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Bheki Makhubu, Editor-in-Chief of The Nation (eSwatini)
- Belete Kassa Mekonnen, co-Founder of Ethio News (Ethiopia)
- Nardos Meles Bisrat, Operations Chief at Ethiopia Insider
- Tesfalem Waldyes, co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Ethiopia Insider
- Isatou Keita, President of the National Union of Journalists (Gambia)
- Pap Saine (as described above)
- Yves-Laurent Goma, Publication Director of Gabon Actu (Gabon)
- Zubaida Afua Mabuno Ismail, independent journalist (Ghana)
- Mouctar Bah, Agence France Presse correspondent (Guinea)
- Chaikou Baldé, President of the Media Alliance for Human Rights in Guinea (Guinea)
- Nouhou Baldé, Founder of Guinée Matin (Guinea)
- Mohamed Bangoura, Publication Director of Mosaiqueguinee.com (Guinea)
- Mamadou Dian Baldé, Editorialist (Guinea)
- Facely Konaté, journalist at Hadafo Médias (Guinea)
- Sékou Jamal Pendessa, Secretary-General of the Syndicat des Professionnels de la Presse de Guinée (Guinea)
- Ibrahima Lincoln Soumah, former Deputy General Manager of FIM FM (Guinea)
- Alberto Dabo, BBC and Reuters correspondant (Guinea Bissau)
- Samuel Obiang Mbana, independent journalist (Equatorial Guinea)
- Zubeidah Kananu, journalist and President of the Kenya Editors Guild
- Ibrahim Oruko, journalist (Kenya)
- James Smart, Chief Editor of NTV Kenya and the Nation Media Group (Kenya)
- Pheko Mathibeli, media professional and academic (Lesotho)
- Akoi Baysah Jr, Secretary-General of the Liberian Press Union
- Crispin Tulay, independent journalist (Liberia)
- Peter Quaqua, former President of the West African Journalists’ Association (Liberia)
- Rodney Sieh, Chief Editor of Front Page Africa (Liberia)
- Randy Donny, independent journalist (Madagascar)
- James Ramarosaona, independent journalist and former President of the Order of Journalists of Madagascar
- Golden Matonga, President of the Media Institute of Southern Africa Malawi
- Collins Mtika, Executive Director of the Platform for Investigative Journalism (Malawi)
- Birama Konaré, owner of Joliba TV (Mali)
- Bandiougou Danté, President of L’Union des Radios et Télévisions Libres du Mali and Director-General of the Saniya radio station (Mali)
- David Dembélé, investigative journalist (Mali)
- Ernesto Nahale, Executive Director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa Mozambique
- Tangeni Amupadhi, Editor-in-Chief of The Namibian
- Moussa Aksar, Publication Director of L’Événement and former President of the Norbert Zongo Cell for Investigative Journalism in West Africa (Niger)
- Boubacar Diallo, former President of ancien président of Maison de la Presse (Niger)
- Manzo Diallo, Director-General of the media group, Aïr Infos (Niger)
- Soumana Idrissa Maïga, Director of L’Enquêteur (Niger)
- Ibrahim Harouna, journalist and former President of Maison de la Presse (Niger)
- Samira Sabou, blogger and journalist (Niger)
- Fisayo Soyombo (as described above)
- Ezaruku Draku Franklin, journalist at the Nation Media Group (Uganda)
- Alain Bashizi, independent journalist and Founder of GorillaFM (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Stanis Bujakera, Publication Director at Actualité.CD and correspondent for Jeune Afrique (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Patient Ligodi, Founder of Actualité.CD and the Kinshasa News Lab (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Jonathan Magoma, journalist at DeboutRDC and Director at Partenariat pour la Protection Intégrée (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Tshivis Tshivuadi, President of Journaliste en Danger (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Assane Diagne, journalist and former RSF West African Bureau Chief (Senegal)
- Ibrahima Khaliloullah Ndiaye, journalist at Le Soleil and former Secretary-General of the Syndicat des Professionnels de l’Information et de la Communication Sociale and L’Union des Journalistes de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Senegal)
- Ibrahima Lissa Faye, Publication Director at Pressafrik (Senegal)
- Mamadou Thior, journalist and President of the Council for Ethical and Professional Conduct in the Media (Senegal)
- Pierre Edouard Faye, Editor-in-Chief of Walfadjri (Senegal)
- Jacques Ngor Sarr, investigative journalist and Publication Director for Mediaspost.com (Senegal)
- Faydy Dramé, journalist (Senegal)
- Rassin Vannier, journalist and President of the Association of Media Practitioners Seychelles
- Chernoh Alpha M. Bah, Editor-in-Chief of Africanist Press (Sierra Leone)
- Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists
- Omar Faruk Osman, journalist and Secretary-General of the National Union of Somali Journalists
- Erick Kabendera, journalist (Tanzania)
- Bello Bakary Mena, President of L’Association des Médias en Ligne du Tchad (Chad)
- Mamadou Djimtebaye, journalist and Founder of TchadInfos (Chad)
- Djimet Wiche, journalist at Alwihda Info and member of the Association of Online Media of Chad
- Ferdinand Ayité, Publication Director of L’Alternative (Togo)
- Isidore Kouwonou, journalist at iciLome.com (Togo)
- Loïc Lawson, journalist and President of L’Union Internationale de la Presse Francophone (Togo)
- Andréa Magnim N’gbanla, journalist and Treasurer of the L’Union Internationale de la Presse Francophone (Togo)
- Obert Simwanza, independent journalist (Zambia)
- Hopewell Chin’ono, investigative journalist (Zimbabwe)
- Simon Muti, journalist (Zimbabwe)
Organisations
- Alliance des Médias pour les Droits Humains en Guinée (Guinea)
- Article 19 (Senegal and West Africa)
- Committee to Protect Journalists
- the Congress of African Journalists
- Media Foundation of West Africa
- Institut Panos Afrique de l’Ouest
- Journaliste en Danger
- Media Institute of Southern Africa Mozambique
- National Union of Somali Journalists
- Reporters sans frontières (RSF)
- Syndicat des professionnels de la presse de Guinée
- Syndicat des professionnels de l’information et de la communication sociale (SYNPICS)
- This article was first published here
