The Guinea journalist abduction has brought renewed attention to the nation’s deteriorating press freedoms under military rule.
Habib Marouane Kamara, editor-in-chief of the investigative platform lerevelateur224.com, was forcibly taken on Tuesday evening by individuals wearing security forces’ uniforms in Conakry.
His disappearance, confirmed by witnesses, raises significant concerns about the state of independent journalism in the country. 
Violent Arrest Sparks Fear
Kamara’s wife, Mariama Lamarana Diallo, recounted the harrowing event during a press briefing. According to her husband’s companion, who witnessed the abduction, their vehicle was intercepted by armed men.
“They shattered the rear windshield and dragged him out violently,” Diallo explained. Witnesses reported Kamara being beaten until he lost consciousness before being thrown into a truck.
Kamara’s companion was also detained but later released and has since gone into hiding. Neither his wife nor his lawyer, Salifou Beavogui, has heard from Kamara since the incident. “I am speechless,” Diallo said, breaking into tears as she expressed her fear for his safety.
Media Under Siege in Guinea
Guinea’s military regime, led by Col. Mamadi Doumbouya since 2021, has come under fire for its relentless suppression of media freedoms. Rights organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, have documented escalating cases of censorship, harassment, and violence against journalists.
Private radio stations have been shut down, social media platforms disrupted, and independent news outlets suspended for months without explanation.
“Despite media pluralism, journalists and the media face obstruction and attacks that have become dangerously commonplace,” Reporters Without Borders said in a statement earlier this year.
Regional Implications and Military Rule
The abduction of Kamara occurs against a backdrop of growing authoritarianism across West Africa. Like Guinea, countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have experienced military takeovers, with transitional governments delaying a return to civilian rule.
Col. Doumbouya, who ousted former President Alpha Conde in 2021, pledged to prevent chaos and restore democracy. However, critics argue that his regime has further eroded freedoms, particularly in political and media spaces.
While elections are tentatively scheduled for 2025, the junta has yet to announce a specific date.
The Global Call for Action
Kamara’s abduction underscores the critical need for international attention to media freedom in Guinea. Advocacy groups and foreign governments must address this escalating repression and push for accountability.
The fate of Kamara remains uncertain, but his disappearance serves as a stark warning of the challenges faced by journalists in the region.
How can the international community ensure greater protection for journalists like Kamara, who risk their lives to uncover the truth in increasingly hostile environments?
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