Gambiaj.com – (CONAKRY, Guinea) – The Kaloum Criminal Court has sentenced prominent vlogger Mariama Ciré Camara, widely known as MC, to five years in prison, including two years suspended, on charges of “insulting the head of state,” public insults, threats, and breaching public order via a computer system.
MC, who has been in custody since her arrest on November 10 during a stay in Conakry, typically resides in England. Judge Mamadou Saliou Diallo found her guilty on all charges.
In addition to her prison term, the court imposed financial and restrictive penalties, including a fine of 20 million Guinean francs, a five-year ban on publishing any videos on social media, and a permanent ban from TikTok, the platform on which she had amassed a significant following.
The verdict is considered one of the harshest in recent years in Guinea for cases involving online speech and comes amid an increasingly restricted environment for digital expression.
The ruling underscores the strict enforcement of the country’s penal code and cybercrime laws regarding content deemed offensive to state institutions.
The decision has sparked widespread criticism from digital rights advocates and MC’s supporters, who argue that it represents a severe infringement on freedom of expression. No immediate comment from MC’s defense team or family was available following the verdict.
Kaback TV Reopens
Meanwhile, the High Authority for Communication (HAC) has authorized the reopening of the private television channel Kaback TV, which had been suspended for offenses against decency and morals.
However, the HAC maintained the suspension of the channel’s program “TELERO” for a further three months.
The regulatory body cited internal disciplinary measures taken by Kaback TV and official apologies to affected artists, as well as clemency requests from the Union of Free Radio and Television Stations of Guinea (URTELGUI) and various public and religious figures, as reasons for lifting the broader suspension.
HAC also reiterated that Kaback TV’s management must issue a public apology to the artists affected by the remarks aired on “TELERO.”
In other developments, HAC announced the opening of accreditation procedures for journalists and media technicians covering the upcoming presidential election.
Press organizations, directors of media outlets, and foreign correspondents must submit their lists of designated personnel, along with professional press cards for the 2025–2027 fiscal period, by Monday, December 22, 2025.
