Media in Guinea-Bissau

The state media system includes RTGB, the national state television and radio service, the newspaper Nô Pintcha and the Agência de Notícias da Guiné news agency. Private and nonprofit media include at least 88 radio stations, at least two private weekly newspapers and a small number of online outlets, although inventories differ by year and source. State broadcasting does not reach every part of the country reliably, while political and economic polarization affects the media environment. Radio has the broadest practical reach. Community radio provides local information, learning, dialogue and participation, often using Kriolu and other locally accessible languages. RENARC is a nationwide community radio and television network that supports rural access, inclusion and peacebuilding. Many broadcasters also use Facebook to extend their reach. No separate locally formalized streaming service is established in the supplied research, and streaming access depends mainly on internet availability. Internet access remains uneven because infrastructure is limited, connection costs are high and digital skills are not distributed equally, especially in rural areas. These barriers affect online news, social media, video and participation. A radio programme may therefore reach people who cannot regularly use online media. The difference between having a smartphone, having an internet connection and being able to use digital services reliably matters in practice. The Constitution, including Articles 44 and 44A, protects freedom of expression and the press. It also provides for public press, radio and television to operate independently of economic and political interests. Lei da Imprensa No. 4/91 covers print, radio, television and the public reproduction of written, audio and visual material, and recognizes journalistic status. CNCS, the Conselho Nacional da Comunicação Social, is the statutory body for media oversight and pluralism. Its composition includes representatives connected with the Supreme Court, Assembleia Nacional Popular, the head of state, the journalists' association and public and private media. Decisions within its legal authority are binding. ARN-TIC, established under Law No. 5/2010, regulates and controls information and communication technologies, including technical planning. A 2025 regulation on electronic communication networks and services introduced a single-license regime. Responsibilities therefore differ between media oversight and electronic-communications regulation. Formal rights do not remove practical risks. The research records political influence, self-censorship, physical attacks, newsroom searches, online harassment and threats of suspension. On 26 November 2025, a military takeover temporarily stopped all media activities. Reporters Without Borders placed Guinea-Bissau at 100th of 180 countries in its 2026 Press Freedom Index, with a score of 51.99, compared with 110th and 51.36 in 2025. Media also support education and participation. MENESIC has operated Child Radio Distance Education since 2020; in 2024, more than 200 radio lessons in Gabú and Bafatá reportedly reached about 176,350 children. U-Report began in Guinea-Bissau on 30 September 2025 through UNICEF, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, five nongovernmental organizations and Telecel. It allows confidential participation through SMS, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger; users can send the SMS keyword DJUNTA to 233 on Telecel, and UNICEF reported more than 19,000 registrations during the first three months. AMPROCS supports women in the media sector, equality and ethical journalism. OJGB works on journalistic ethics and self-regulation, while SINJOTECS represents journalists and communication technicians. UNESCO training in 2025 covered open-source investigation and fact-checking for 30 journalists from Guinea-Bissau and Gambia. These initiatives improve critical assessment, but the supplied research does not establish a separate youth-media law or a verified nationwide price list for media access and licensing.