Armed soldiers believed to be part of the presidential security of President Alpha Condé in Guinea have stormed the premises of the privately-owned radio station, Bate FM, following a live coverage of a political rally organised by the ruling party, People’s Rally of Guinea (RPG).
Bate FM is located in Kankan, a town 700 kilometres north of Conakry, the capital.
The soldiers forcibly entered the studios, manhandled and threw out the journalists before closing down the radio station.
Subsequently, Sorel Mady and Moro Sidibe, host and producer respectively were arrested and grilled by the local police.
The Media Foundation for West Africa monitor in the country reported that on 16 August the angry soldiers besieged the radio station after a campaign tour by President Condé was marred by boos from the inhabitants of Kankan.
“Though the soldiers were aware of Bate FM’s live broadcast, they accused the station of deliberately airing the instance where the crowd hooted at the President,” the monitor said.
Meanwhile, two days after the soldiers stormed Bate FM, supporters of the ruling RPG based in Kankan took a cue from the soldiers’ attack and also attacked the radio station, vandalizing equipment and property.
Equipment worth thousands of dollars including microphones, console, antennae, and voice recorders was destroyed and taken away by the supporters, MFWA reported.
The director of the radio station, Moussa Diawara, has fled the country to neighbouring Mali following threats to his life while the radio station has since been off air.
“The MFWA is worried at this barbaric behaviour of the soldiers and the RPG supporters” a release says, adding “We call on the Presidency, leadership of the RPG, and the Head of Police to publicly rebuke the culprits and act swiftly to ensure the equipment are returned to the radio station”.
© Politico 22/08/13
