Internet Shutdowns

Guinea experienced a second service blocking event in 2023, following the fourteen day event in May. As of Friday, 24 November 2023, social media sites and messaging services were reportedly inaccessible in-country without the use of a VPN and several independent radio stations are being jammed.

According to one report, government authorities have not yet provided a statement.

Measurements by the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) showed issues connecting to specific social media sites and messaging services and indicated that this blocking seems to be happening by interference with Transport Layer Security (TLS) connections and DNS-based tampering.

Beginning on 23 February 2024, OONI measurements began to show a restoration of services and an end to the blocking.

Internet shutdowns during protests or civil unrest impact the ability of citizens to get accurate information from government sources when they need it most. It also becomes harder for citizens to contact family members and friends in other parts of the country, or in other countries.

“The government’s deaf ear and tight lips in response to a situation that is having a dangerous impact on freedom of expression.” — Guinean journalist

“The jamming of independent radio stations and inaccessibility of social media are reminders of how fragile press freedom is in Guinea. The public is being denied its right of access to diverse news and information. Jamming radios looks alarmingly like an act of sabotage designed to silence them, and sends an extremely worrying signal. The authorities must say something, and must do whatever is needed to remedy this situation as quickly as possible.” — Sadibou Marong, Director of RSF’s sub-Saharan Africa bureau