In a published press release, the publishing management of the general information site Mosaïque Guinée announced, this Thursday, January 11, 2024, the blocking of the organ for Guinean readers who do not use VPN.
During an interview with Conakry Infos, the publication director of Mosaïque Guinée, Mohamed Bangoura, returned to the circumstances in which they learned of these “targeted” restrictions.
« We were alerted by many readers, I believe, from the 3rd to the 4th until the 5th and then the days that followed, notably journalists. But it was on the night of January 2 to 3, 2024 that we noticed that the site was restricted, was blocked. Guinean readers cannot access news content from Mosaïque Guinée without using a VPN. Which means that when you don’t have a VPN or you don’t have optical fiber, you can’t access information from Mosaïque Guinée, which is really damaging. » regretted Mohamed Bangoura.
On the reasons why the general information site was blocked and who are those who are behind this restriction, the publication director points an accusing finger at the ARPT and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and adds that no reason is not currently mentioned.
« Have we tried to find out? Of course ! We went to several competent authorities, but we did not hear back. Which means, for the moment, we are sure that nothing justifies blocking our website. We talk about the ARPT because it is the ARPT which has the tools as such to block an information site. It is the authority that regulates posts and telecommunications, perhaps of course the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications is also well informed of this blockage. But for now, we believe that it is the two authorities who are responsible for cutting off, or restricting, or blocking the Internet in Guinea, no more, no less », Indexed the publication manager of Mosaïque Guinée.
Further, Mohamed Bangoura announced that his site’s lawyers plan to file a complaint against those who are behind this mosaic restriction in Guinea.
« We contacted our lawyers who are working on this, they are working in this direction, certainly a complaint will be drawn up. But for the moment, we are also seeing other measures at the same time so that our rights are restored, so that the site can be accessible to Guineans without using a VPN. We specify that it is only and only the Mosaïque Guinée site which is affected by this blocking. The other Guinean sites are not blocked, nothing justifies this blocking to date. We don’t know, we don’t know, and we ask them to unblock our website. » asked Mr. Bangoura.
Finally, on the question of whether this blockage is not linked to the situation of the FIM FM radio of which the general director (Aboubacar Diallo) is the boss, Mohamed Bangoura specifies that there is no link between these two restrictions. However, it is only his site which is affected by this restriction.
Ibrahima Sory Soumah
