Guinean website editor’s arrest violates press law

 
  The editor of the Conakry Live website, Camara was taken into custody at the headquarters of the judicial police in Conakry on 26 March in connection with an article detailing an alleged case of embezzlement of fuel expenses by Guinea’s foreign ministry.

Camara, who is also the Chinese news agency Xinhua’s correspondent in Guinea, was placed in detention after being summoned for questioning as a result of a defamation complaint brought by the ministry.  

“We demand Lansana Camara’s immediate release in accordance with Guinea’s press law, which excludes imprisonment as a penalty for press offences,” said Assane Diagne, the head of RSF’s West Africa office. “His arrest is a violation of the freedom to inform, and an attempt to prevent investigative journalism.”  

RSF has learned that that Guinea’s press associations plan to organize a protest march if Camara has not been released by 2 April.  

Guinea is ranked 104th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2018 World Press Freedom Index.