Social media blackout lifted in Guinea

A blackout on several social media sites in Guinea, which is ruled by an authoritarian government, was lifted Friday, bloggers and other users in the West African nation said.

Guinean authorities have not officially commented on the restrictions, which were first announced Thursday by ABLOGUI, an association of Guinea bloggers.

The group said it had observed a blockage on Facebook, Messenger, YouTube and TikTok starting Wednesday.

Guinea is ruled by President Mamady Doumbouya, a former army general, who came to power in a 2021 coup and was elected last December in a vote that excluded all major opposition leaders.

Guinea's communications regulator HAC had warned Tuesday about recent "verbal attacks, unverified information and messages harmful to social cohesion", without giving further details.

Baro Conde, president of ABLOGUI, told AFP Friday he welcomed "the restoration of social media access. Citizens will once again be able to enjoy their freedoms of information and expression".

He also issued a warning regarding the possibility of further shutdowns during legislative and municipal elections scheduled for May 31.

Earlier in the week, singer Yama Sega and influencer Maya La Solution traded insults on social media via video posts.

Faced with an ensuing uproar, they later publicly apologised to "the people of Guinea".

Officials apprehended the two on Friday, however, and they will remain in custody ahead of judicial proceedings Monday, the Office of the Public Prosecutor at the Conakry Court of Appeal said.

In a statement, it said an investigation was instigated "following the dissemination on social media, notably the Facebook platform, of remarks of an insulting, outrageous and degrading nature".