the disappearance of journalist Habib Marouane Camara since his arrest worries his relatives and NGOs

4 mins

It is a press release signed by the editorial staff of the information site that he directs, The Revealer 224which tells us of the arrest of journalist Habib Marouane Camara in Guinea. According to his colleagues, he was going on the evening of Tuesday December 3 to a meeting with businessman Kerfalla Person Camara, known as “KPC”, in Lambanyi, a suburb of Conakry. And it was on the way, near the home of “KPC”, that he was arrested by gendarmes, in front of witnesses. According to the press release, the “ gendarmes broke the front windshield, before forcibly extracting him from his vehicle. […] [Ils] knocked him unconscious with batons before driving him to an unknown destination “.

Kerfalla Person Camara’s lawyers said their client did not ” played no role in the facts linked to the current situation of Mr. Habib Marouane Camara “. During a press briefing he held the next day, the journalist’s lawyer, Maître Salifou Beavogui, denounced a “ arbitrary arrest » and demands the “ immediate release » from his client. He affirmed that the prosecutor of the Dixinn first instance court, which has jurisdiction over this area, was not informed of this arrest.

Requests for release are increasing

The Union of Press Professionals of Guinea (SPPG) also denounces the arrest of Habib Marouane Camara and calls for his release. The secretary general of the SPPG, Sékou Jamal Pendessa, was received by Prime Minister Bah Oury on Wednesday December 4 and asked him for information on the fate of his colleague. Pendessa reported to RFI the response he received: “ The Prime Minister told us that he would seek information. And if Marouane was in the hands of state services, may his rights and freedoms be respected and his case be processed in accordance with the law. »

After this meeting, the Prime Minister published on his Facebook page that he was committed to press freedom. “ Always take into account the context of fragility of the country “, he added. However, its publication does not mention the name of Habib Marouane Camara. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) “ calls on the authorities to rule on the fate of journalist Habib Marouane Camara “. For Jeanne Lagarde, advocacy officer at RSF, “ this kidnapping resembles those of the personalities kidnapped this year », referring to the forced disappearances of Foniké Menguè and Mamadou Billo Bahthe leaders of the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution, and the kidnapping of the former secretary general of the Ministry of Mines, Saadou Nimaga.

Worrying message to journalists

Jeanne Lagarde adds that “ this odious act sends a disastrous, worrying message to journalists, particularly those critical of the junta “. The main audiovisual media saw their approvals withdrawn by the junta last May. The United States Embassy in Conakry, for its part, expressed its “ serious concern » facing « the kidnapping » of Habib Marouane Camara and asks the authorities of Conakry to “ transparency » on the journalist’s situation.

Habib Marouane Camara also worked for Djoma, a private radio and television station, until it was closed by the transitional authorities. For several weeks, he said he was the subject of threats. They have become more pronounced in recent days, to the point that he posted on his Facebook page on November 28 that a “ commando [était] on his heels “. His lawyer had already warned about these threats. On November 27, he declared that his client “ received threats of imminent kidnapping by a group of unknown individuals “.

The authorities contacted by AFP say they have not been informed of the arrest. RFI tried in vain to contact the government spokesperson and the Minister of Information. The latter told RSF that he had “not no information at the moment ”, and that it will be necessary “ wait before you get it “.

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