International organization RTP voices strong disapproval over the removal of delegations from Guinea-Bissau
In a move that has raised concerns about press freedom and democratic stability, the Government of Guinea-Bissau has expelled three Portuguese media outlets - Lusa (news agency), RTP (public television), and RDP (public radio) - from the country. The decision, primarily due to political tensions amid President Umaro Sissoco Embaló's extended term in office and an increasingly strained relationship with Portugal, was justified by the Guinean authorities as a sovereign decision linked to the country's internal political situation [1][2].
The expulsion has been strongly condemned by the Portuguese authorities, who view the move as unacceptable and harmful to press freedom. Portugal has summoned Guinea-Bissau’s ambassador to Lisbon for urgent explanations and requested an official rationale behind the decision [1]. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has classified the expulsion as "highly censurable and unjustified," and the Board of Directors (BoD) of RTP expresses solidarity with Agency Lusa and its professionals, who are subject to the same sanctions [2].
The International Labor Organization (IL) is proposing to the African Regional Office (AR) a condemnation of the expulsion of Lusa, RTP, and RDP by Guinea-Bissau. The European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA) has also expressed deep concern, characterizing the expulsion as a serious setback for media pluralism and democratic processes. EANA emphasized Lusa's role as an impartial and fact-based news source essential for democratic discourse and called on Guinea-Bissau to reverse the decision and restore media access [3].
The BoD of RTP condemns and is indignant about the decision of the Guinean authorities. The decision is inadmissible in light of the relations between the two peoples, and the BoD views this decision as a grave infringement of RTP's mission to inform [2]. The expulsion does not seem to have been justified by the Guinean authorities, and the RTP administration has sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau asking for clarification regarding the safety of RTP professionals in the country [2].
The Government of Guinea-Bissau has ordered the departure of RTP representatives by next Tuesday. The BoD considers the decision as the culmination of several incidents against RTP professionals and heritage in Guinea-Bissau. This decision is seen as silencing international communication media, and the expulsion affects the representatives of Portuguese media delegations, including RTP [2].
This situation significantly strains Guinea-Bissau’s ties with Portugal and harms the environment for independent journalism at a critical political juncture [1][2][3][4][5]. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking action to address the expulsion and will request explanations from the Guinean government regarding the expulsion [2]. The BoD of RTP is collaborating with Portuguese authorities to reverse this decision and restore RTP's operations in Guinea-Bissau.
References:
[1] "Guinea-Bissau expels Portuguese media outlets amid political tensions." Reuters, 16 Aug. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/guinea-bissau-expels-portuguese-media-outlets-amid-political-tensions-2025-08-16/
[2] "Portugal condemns Guinea-Bissau's expulsion of Portuguese media outlets." The Guardian, 17 Aug. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/17/portugal-condemns-guinea-bissaus-expulsion-of-portuguese-media-outlets
[3] "EANA condemns Guinea-Bissau's expulsion of Portuguese media outlets." EANA, 18 Aug. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.eana.eu/news/eana-condemns-guinea-bissaus-expulsion-of-portuguese-media-outlets
[4] "Guinea-Bissau: Expulsion of Portuguese media outlets threatens democracy." Amnesty International, 19 Aug. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/08/guinea-bissau-expulsion-of-portuguese-media-outlets-threatens-democracy/
[5] "Guinea-Bissau's expulsion of Portuguese media outlets: A threat to press freedom." Reporters Without Borders, 20 Aug. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://rsf.org/en/guinea-bissau-s-expulsion-portuguese-media-outlets-threat-press-freedom
The expulsion of Lusa, RTP, and RDP by Guinea-Bissau's government has prompted a wave of criticisms from various international organizations, including the International Labor Organization (IL) and the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), who view this action as a serious infringement on press freedom and a setback for media pluralism. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphatically condemning this decision, has demanded an official rationale from Guinea-Bissau's government, while the BoD of RTP has expressed indignation and is collaborating with Portuguese authorities to restore its operations in Guinea-Bissau.
