Guinea Lifts Temporary Ban On Social Media Platforms Ahead Of Elections

Authorities in Guinea have lifted a temporary blackout on major social media platforms, restoring access for millions of users across the West African nation.

The disruption, which affected platforms such as Facebook, Messenger, YouTube and TikTok, was first reported by the Association of Bloggers in Guinea (ABLOGUI) on Thursday.

By Friday, bloggers and users confirmed that access had been fully restored, although authorities were yet to issue an official explanation for the restriction.

Guinea is currently led by Mamady Doumbouya, a former Army General who came to power following a 2021 coup and was later elected in a controversial election that excluded major opposition figures.

Prior to the shutdown, the country’s communications regulator had raised concerns about the spread of “verbal attacks, unverified information, and messages harmful to social cohesion,” though it did not explicitly link the warning to the social media disruption.

Reacting to the development, ABLOGUI President, Baro Conde, described the restoration as a positive step for civil liberties.

“Citizens will once again be able to enjoy their freedoms of information and expression,” he said.

However, Conde cautioned that such restrictions could recur, particularly during politically sensitive periods.

“Guinea has developed a habit of restricting social media access during election periods,” he added.

The development comes ahead of legislative and municipal elections scheduled for May 31, raising concerns among observers about potential future disruptions to online communication in the country.