Residents noticed that internet access, which had been restricted for three months and triggered protests, was restored overnight on Thursday by the military authorities in Guinea.
The decision came a day after unions in the West African country declared an indefinite general strike from Monday to urge the ruling junta to free a prominent media activist, lower food prices and reinstate internet access.
The military, who took power in a coup in 2021, had claimed the internet restrictions were necessary because of a security “issue”.
On Monday, they abolished the transitional government, which had been in place since July 2022.
The junta did not explain why they dissolved the government, a move that has worsened tensions in the country.
Under international pressure, they pledged to return power to elected civilians by the end of 2024 but the opposition has accused them of authoritarian tendencies.
Journalists have led the protests against media censorship.
Besides limiting access to the internet, the authorities have shut down major television channels and blocked radio frequencies.
Sekou Jamal Pendessa, secretary general of the Union of Press Professionals of Guinea (SPPG), was detained in January for “taking part in an illegal protest”.
Unions are calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
A court was expected to decide on Friday whether he should be imprisoned for six months, as prosecutors have demanded.
Protests have been prohibited since 2022 by the military, who removed elected president Alpha Conde in September 2021.
The resumption of internet access astonished many in Guinea and sparked a wave of social media reactions.
“This country’s worst enemies are its governments, especially this transitional team,” said one commentator.
“They are trying to curry favour now by making us believe these internet restrictions were the work of only a few people in the dismissed (administration).”
Another commentator pointed out that restoring internet access had been one of the unions’ main demands.
“Yet more proof that the only thing our leaders understand is force,” they said.
