In a harrowing incident that highlights the risks faced by journalists and their families, Adama Keita, the 75-year-old father of Guinean journalist Mamoudou Babila Keita, was kidnapped on September 29, 2025, in Nzérékoré, Guinea. This abduction comes more than a year after his son fled the country to escape a similar fate.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urgently called for the safe release of Adama Keita, expressing concern that his kidnapping is a direct retaliation against his son's journalistic work. Mamoudou Babila Keita, known for his critical reporting on the military junta in Guinea, had narrowly escaped an abduction attempt in July 2024. Since then, he has lived in exile, continuing to voice concerns over the governance and human rights situation in his homeland.

From his place of safety, Babila has publicly condemned the abduction of his father, labeling it a manipulative tactic by the Guinean authorities to force his return. Local and international media outlets, alongside human rights organizations, have echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the incident is part of a broader strategy to stifle dissent and limit freedom of expression under the guise of political transition.

Organizations such as Forces-Vives have also denounced the abduction, categorizing it as an intimidation effort aimed at suppressing critical voices essential for a democratic society. This event is part of a disturbing trend in West Africa, where the ascent of military juntas since 2021 has been accompanied by increased censorship, violent abductions, and the suppression of civil liberties.

In response to international outcry and local pressure, the city’s prosecutor has initiated an official investigation into the kidnapping of Adama Keita. However, outcomes remain uncertain, and the journalist community worldwide continues to watch closely, hoping for a resolution that reaffirms the value of press freedom and human dignity in Guinea.