Lisbon, March 31, 2026 (Lusa) - Guinea-Bissau’s transitional government ordered the closure of private radio stations and their facilities on Tuesday due to alleged unpaid licencing fees, two stations announced in statements.

The measure affects around 10 commercial, religious, and non-governmental organisation (NGO) radio stations.

Capital FM and the Catholic Church’s Sol Mansi announced they had stopped broadcasting early Tuesday.

Capital FM said it closed for an indefinite period after receiving a notification from government inspectors.

Sol Mansi said the inspection services ordered an immediate end to transmissions, the sealing of equipment and the precautionary seizure of hardware.

The order lasts seven days, but the government may extend it, the station said.

The Catholic station said the government believed private radios were operating without valid licences, expired renewals, or unpaid annual fees to the government.

If stations do not resolve these issues, the government said it might close them permanently. Each station must pay 5 million CFA francs (around €7,500) for an operating licence.

Affected stations regret that the move happened "before the conclusion of the ongoing dialogue process" between the government and the Private Media Forum of Guinea-Bissau.

*** The Lusa agency delegation in Guinea-Bissau has been suspended since August following the government’s expulsion of Portuguese media representatives. Coverage is currently being provided remotely. *** MLL/LYT // ADB.

Lusa