Access to major social media platforms in Guinea was restored on Friday, ending a sudden blackout that had disrupted communication nationwide.
Bloggers and users confirmed services resumed after restrictions blocked platforms including Facebook, Messenger, YouTube and TikTok earlier in the week.
Authorities have not issued any official explanation, leaving the cause of the outage unclear amid growing concerns over digital freedoms.
The disruption was first reported by ABLOGUI, a bloggers’ association, which observed widespread blocking beginning Wednesday across multiple widely used platforms.
Guinea is led by President Mamady Doumbouya, a former army general who seized power in a 2021 coup.
He was later elected in December in a vote that excluded all major opposition figures, drawing criticism over democratic legitimacy.
Days before the blackout, the communications regulator warned against harmful messages and unverified information that could threaten social cohesion.
The warning followed heated online exchanges between singer Yama Sega and influencer Maya La Solution, which sparked public outrage.
Both figures later apologised publicly, but authorities detained them on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors said the case involves the dissemination of insulting and degrading remarks shared widely on social media platforms.
Baro Conde, head of ABLOGUI, welcomed the restoration, saying citizens could once again exercise their rights to information and expression.
However, he cautioned that further disruptions could occur as Guinea approaches legislative and municipal elections scheduled for May 31.
The episode underscores fragile digital freedoms in Guinea, where political tensions and online expression increasingly intersect in uncertain and volatile ways.
