Guinea-Bissau: Government promises to explain expulsion of Lusa, RTP, and RDP

The Guinea-Bissau government postponed clarification on the expulsion of Portuguese media outlets until this Saturday. The government stated that it is "always open to dialogue," as long as the country's sovereignty is respected.

The information was transmitted by the Prime Minister, Braima Camará, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MNE), Carlos Pinto Pereira, at the end of a meeting with the international community, in Bissau, about the general elections scheduled for November 23.

The government of Guinea-Bissau has decided to expel delegations from the Lusa news agency, RTP África, and RDP África, suspending broadcasts starting today. Representatives from these media outlets were also ordered to leave the country by Tuesday.

When asked about the measure, the Prime Minister handed the floor over to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who confirmed that this "is a Government decision," but that "in the coming hours he will take a further position in terms of clarifications on the matter."

The Guinea-Bissau government's decision, announced this Friday, without providing the reasons for the expulsion of Portuguese media, has generated reactions in both countries.

The Portuguese Foreign Ministry condemned the expulsion, which it called “highly reprehensible and unjustifiable,” and said it would ask the Guinean government for explanations.

The ambassador of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in Lisbon has, meanwhile, been summoned "to provide explanations and clarifications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." The meeting is scheduled for Saturday.

The news agencies Lusa, RTP and RDP jointly reacted to the Guinean government's decision, which they describe as "a deliberate attack on freedom of expression."