“Gross negligence”. This is the reason used to justify the suspension of the General Manager and 2 other management personnel of the Radiodiffusion Télévision Guinéenne (RTG). Apart from General Manager Yamoussa Sidibé, the sanction concerns the National Broadcasting Director, Ismael Keita, and the National Television Director (RTG Koloma), Fodé Tass Sylla.

Their suspension came into effect on 19 October 2015 through a decree from the President of the Republic, Alpha Condé (photo). The text came on the day following the bad broadcast, on 17 October, of the temporary results proclamation ceremony for the presidential election by the National Independent Election Commission (CENI). The ceremony was taking place at the Palais du Peuple in Conakry. During the broadcast, which lasted 10 min, there was no sound, the images were unstable.

According to the Guinean media, the re-elected head of state considered these mishaps as a sabotage of this victory in the election. This version was neither confirmed nor denied officially. Either way, at RTG, some are denouncing this decision. Those suspended are seen as scapegoats, as RTG is a victim of its infrastructure deficit and lack of training for the personnel.