Three media organizations have been forced to suspend their activities for an indefinite period, according to orders issued on Tuesday by the National Communications Institute of Mozambique (INCM).

This is Rádio e Televisão Encontro - a Catholic broadcaster from the archdiocese of Nampula. A statement from the institution indicates that INCM's justification for the temporary closure has to do with interference with air navigation.

"... the notification in our possession is because of the interference that Radio is creating in the aeronautical mobile service," it reads.

According to the Ngani portal, the same reasons led to the closure of two other community radio stations, Radio Haq and Radio Vida.

"...they only received a dry notice ordering the suspension of their broadcasts, without further technical explanations," writes the portal, which questions whether this is "censorship in disguise" and "a blow to press freedom".

The INCM is due to present clarifications for the decision to close the three community radio stations tomorrow.