Conakry, 8 October 2025 — Press freedom groups have called on Guinean authorities to ensure the safe return of 75-year-old Elhadj Adama Keita, the father of exiled journalist Mamoudou Babila Keita, who was abducted by unidentified men in Nzérékoré on September 29.
Circumstances of the Abduction
According to witnesses, Keita was seized outside his home by men who forced him into a vehicle. The incident occurred more than a year after his son, Mamoudou Babila Keita, fled Guinea following an attempted kidnapping linked to his outspoken criticism of the country’s military-led transition.
Press Freedom Concerns
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the abduction, warning it may be an act of reprisal for Babila’s reporting.
“The circumstances of Elhadj Adama Keita’s abduction raise fears that he is being punished for the journalism of his son,” said Moussa Ngom, CPJ’s Francophone Africa representative. “Guinean authorities must ensure that he is reunited with his family and allow the media to operate freely.”
Babila, now in exile, denounced the abduction as an attempt to pressure him into silence. Local NGOs, including Forces-Vives, have also described the incident as targeted intimidation aimed at curbing freedom of expression.
Broader Context
The case highlights a deteriorating climate for journalists in West Africa, where military takeovers since 2021 have been accompanied by increased censorship, harassment, and reported kidnappings of media workers and activists.
Official Response
The Nzérékoré prosecutor has ordered an investigation to identify and arrest those responsible. However, rights groups stress that the government must act swiftly to demonstrate its commitment to protecting both journalists and their families.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by David Odero | Kisii University School of Law, KE
Sources: Committee to Protect Journalists; JURIST; RFI.
