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Guinea’s media regulator has banned French broadcaster France 24 from operating in the country after a presenter described President Mamady Doumbouya as a “putschist president”.
The High Authority for Communication announced the decision on Thursday, saying the broadcaster had made remarks that undermined the dignity of the head of state.
The action came a day after the regulator issued a formal warning to France 24 and ordered it to make editorial corrections across its digital platforms.
The disputed description was used during a September 14 broadcast. France 24 subsequently said it had apologised and corrected the wording both on air and online.
Despite the correction, the HAC said it had revoked France 24’s authorisation to broadcast in Guinea.
It also withdrew the press accreditations of the broadcaster’s correspondents, special envoys and contributors working in the country.
France 24 apologises
A clip containing the disputed wording remained available on the France 24 website on Thursday, alongside a note describing the reference to Doumbouya as an error.
Contacted by AFP, France 24 said it had apologised and corrected the mistake on its broadcast and digital platforms.
The HAC had earlier characterised the wording as inappropriate and said it did not reflect what it considered Doumbouya’s legitimacy following his election.
Doumbouya came to power after a military coup in 2021. He was later elected president in December 2025 in a vote that reports said featured no significant opposition.
Critics condemn ban
The Forces Vives de Guinée, an alliance of opposition parties and rights groups, criticised both the regulator’s decision and France 24’s apology.
The group accused the authorities of trying to silence international media after restrictions on domestic outlets.
Reporters Without Borders also criticised the decision, saying the measures undermined the freedom to report and the public’s access to diverse sources of information. The organisation called on the authorities to reverse the measures.
The HAC also withdrew the press accreditation of a correspondent for French-language magazine Jeune Afrique on Wednesday.
The regulator accused the journalist of “professional misconduct” but did not provide further details.
The developments add to previous restrictions on France 24 in parts of West Africa.
The broadcaster has previously been banned in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, while it has not resumed broadcasting in Togo after a suspension in 2025.
