A Guinean prosecutor has launched an investigation into the controversial arrest of journalist Habib Marouane Camara.
Camara, editor of the Lerevelateur224 news site, was detained on Tuesday in Lambanyi, near the capital Conakry, under unclear circumstances.
The arrest, reportedly carried out by uniformed individuals, was condemned by journalists and rights groups as an attack on press freedom.
Authorities disclosed the arrest had been conducted “without orders from the established authorities,” raising questions about its legality.
In a statement, the prosecutor’s office described the incident as an “arbitrary arrest and confinement” and vowed a thorough probe.
The central directorate of judicial police has been tasked with uncovering the facts surrounding Camara’s detention.
The journalist was reportedly intercepted by security forces in a marked vehicle while en route to meet a businessman.
Witnesses claim his assailants shattered his car’s windscreen before forcibly removing him to an undisclosed location.
Press unions in Guinea have decried the incident as a “kidnapping,” demanding accountability and protection for journalists.
This arrest follows a troubling pattern of crackdowns on dissent since the junta seized power in 2021.
Several opposition figures have been detained or forced into exile, while others remain unaccounted for.
Two anti-junta activists disappeared in July after being detained, and deaths in custody of key figures have raised alarms.
Despite international pressure, the junta has signaled reluctance to transfer power to a civilian government by the promised 2024 deadline.
The investigation into Camara’s arrest is ongoing, with authorities pledging to release their findings to the public.
