Equatorial Guinea prohibits Egypt revolt reports

Information Minister Jerónimo Osa Osa is reported to have given direct orders to the staff at the Radiotelevision of Equatorial Guinea (RTVGE) to stop mentioning the events in Tunisia and Egypt, according to the Madrid-based Association for Democratic Solidarity with Equatorial Guinea (ASODEGUE).

Noting the sudden lack of updates from the revolutionary events in Egypt, eagerly followed throughout Africa, members of the marginalised Equatoguinean opposition had contacted staff working at RTVGE. They were told that “the Minister of Information personally has given orders that we shall say no more about it.”

Equatorial Guinea thereby joins the few countries worldwide, including China and Eritrea, that prevent the population to learn about the dynamics of revolution in North Africa. Like China and Eritrea, the government of Equatorial Guinea has total control of the information that reaches its population. Access to foreign media is strongly restricted, with even radio broadcasts from the ex-colonial power Spain being blocked and foreign magazines being censored.

In contrasting to China, however, Equatorial Guinea does not have an active internet censorship, probably due to lack of resources and due to the low impact of the web in the country. According to recent research published by afrol News, only 2 percent of the Equatoguinean population has access to internet, representing the - mostly pro-government - elite in the country.

Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) recalls that “in Equatorial Guinea, no private media exist in practical terms. Journalists in state media are obliged to reproduce government propaganda.” RSF has disclosed how state journalists are fired from one day to another just for not showing enough enthusiasm praising President Obiang.

(Source: afrol.com)