{"id":1465,"date":"2011-07-31T05:46:11","date_gmt":"2011-07-31T10:46:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=1465"},"modified":"2011-07-31T05:46:11","modified_gmt":"2011-07-31T10:46:11","slug":"guinea-imposed-temporary-ban-on-radio-france-international","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2011\/07\/guinea-imposed-temporary-ban-on-radio-france-international\/","title":{"rendered":"Guinea imposed temporary ban on Radio France International"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Map of Guinea (Source: CIA World Fact Book)<\/p><\/div>\n

(Source:\u00a0Committee to Protect Journalists via RNW Media Network<\/a>)<\/p>\n

On Monday [25 July], Guinea\u2019s state-controlled media regulatory agency imposed a \u201ctemporary\u201d ban on media coverage of the July 19 attack on the private residence of President Alpha Conde, silencing private radio and television talk programmes in which critical questions were being raised about the episode.<\/p>\n

In such circumstances, Guinean listeners turn to foreign media outlets such as France\u2019s state-funded international broadcaster, Radio France Internationale (RFI), the most popular station in Francophone Africa. With programmes such as \u201cAppels Sur L\u2019actualite\u201d, a daily news call-in show, RFI is considered by millions of African listeners to be an essential source of news and information.<\/p>\n

Wednesday\u2019s \u201cAppels Sur L\u2019actualite\u201d began with an ominous statement read by host Juan Gomez. \u201cWe had planned this morning to debate the attack last week against the residence of the Guinean president, but yesterday the National Communications Council of Guinea decided to temporarily suspend any programme or article about the attempted assassination against the head of state as well as all call-in programmes.\u201d Gomez told listeners they would have to debate another topic.<\/p>\n

Squeezed between the expectations of listeners and the conditions set by governments leasing the local frequencies it needs, RFI found itself in a difficult position. \u201cWe are not submitting to a censorship measure; we regret it and we hope that it will be temporary.\u201d RFI deputy director Genevieve Goetzinger told CPJ today [28 July].<\/p>\n

RFI has suffered for its critical reporting on current events in Africa. The station has seen its reporters expelled from Chad, Rwanda, and Senegal, its local correspondent jailed in Niger, and another correspondent killed in the Ivory Coast.<\/p>\n

RFI has had its broadcasts temporarily banned in a number of countries, most recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the government of President Joseph Kabila sought the removal of RFI senior reporter Ghislaine Dupont, the station\u2019s DRC specialist who was expelled from the country in 2006. Nevertheless, RFI management remains adamant the station will continue to report without interference. \u201cOur editorial line is set in Paris, in complete independence from all the governments in the world,\u201d Goetzinger said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As a follow-up, RNW Media Network noted that the temporary ban was eventually lifted<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As with Fiji, Burma, Zimbabwe and many other countries where the ruling party arbitrarily tries to block free speech, shortwave radio cuts through censorship without regard for national borders<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source:\u00a0Committee to Protect Journalists via RNW Media Network) On Monday [25 July], Guinea\u2019s state-controlled media regulatory agency imposed a \u201ctemporary\u201d ban on media coverage of the July 19 attack on the private residence of President Alpha Conde, silencing private radio and television talk programmes in which critical questions were being raised about the episode. In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,81,3],"tags":[499,498,497,453],"class_list":["post-1465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","category-current-events","category-news","tag-free-speech","tag-guinea","tag-radio-france-international","tag-rfi"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-nD","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11240,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/fire-at-radio-france-building-in-paris\/","url_meta":{"origin":1465,"position":0},"title":"Fire at Radio France building in Paris","author":"Thomas","date":"October 31, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, @K7al_L3afta, for sharing news that the top floors of the Radio France broadcasting house were on fire this morning: @SWLingDotCom @LondonShortwave fire in Radio France!! pic.twitter.com\/EWoIWsyLEq \u2014 ????? ????????? (@K7al_L3afta) October 31, 2014 You can read more about the fire, in English, via Reuters:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5328,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/01\/radio-france-international-features-ears-to-our-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":1465,"position":1},"title":"Radio France International features Ears To Our World","author":"Thomas","date":"January 7, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Many of you know how important I consider shortwave radio to be in the third world and for those living under repressive regimes. Radio France International recently interviewed me regarding these views and my position as the founder and director of the charity, Ears To Our World. Click here to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RFI-RadioFranceInternational","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/RFI-RadioFranceInternational-297x300.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":37048,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/rfi-the-power-of-radio-during-british-mandated-palestine\/","url_meta":{"origin":1465,"position":2},"title":"RFI: “The power of radio during British-mandated Palestine”","author":"Thomas","date":"April 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who writes: There is an interesting article\/podcast by R France Int entitled \"The power of radio during British-mandated Palestine\". \"On 30 March 1936, the British High Commissioner of Palestine, Arthur Wauchope, inaugurated the Palestinian Broadcasting Service, the PBS. It was the second\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/inauguration_day_of_pbs-1024x578.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/inauguration_day_of_pbs-1024x578.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/inauguration_day_of_pbs-1024x578.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13617,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/rfi-the-sound-kitchen-now-on-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":1465,"position":3},"title":"RFI: The Sound Kitchen now on shortwave radio","author":"Thomas","date":"June 16, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Mike who notes that Radio France International's program, The Sound Kitchen, is now available over shortwave radio. The Sound Kitchen staff reported this news in the show notes of their latest episode, Pieces of Eight: \"Fabulous news! We have a shortwave frequency again! It\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RFI-Logo-World-Large","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/RFI-Logo-World-Large.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/RFI-Logo-World-Large.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/RFI-Logo-World-Large.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64285,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/carlos-illustrated-radio-listening-report-and-recording-of-radio-france-international-march-17-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":1465,"position":4},"title":"Carlos\u2019 Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Radio France International (March 17, 2026)","author":"Thomas","date":"March 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor and noted political cartoonist,\u00a0Carlos Latuff, who shares the following\u00a0illustrated radio listening report of a recent RFI broadcast. Carlos notes: Patrice Lumumba assassination: former Belgian diplomat sent to trial, RFI, 21690 kHz https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/J2foU-w06SY?si=YUOMCcnZNm4JeuMG Click here to view on YouTube.","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Latuff-RFI-17mar2026-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Latuff-RFI-17mar2026-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Latuff-RFI-17mar2026-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Latuff-RFI-17mar2026-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Latuff-RFI-17mar2026-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23898,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/the-tecsun-s-8800-tuned-to-radio-guinea\/","url_meta":{"origin":1465,"position":5},"title":"The Tecsun S-8800 tuned to Radio Guinea","author":"Thomas","date":"February 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, while comparing the new Tecsun S-8800 with the PL-880 and ICF-SW7600GR (on the tail gate of my truck) I tuned to Radio Guinea and was instantly reminded why I love music over shortwave. Here's a clip I kept rather short for fear that YouTube might note the off-air music\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-SpeakerGrill.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-SpeakerGrill.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-SpeakerGrill.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-SpeakerGrill.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-SpeakerGrill.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1465","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1465\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}