The United Nations rights office, OHCHR, on Friday slammed Mali’s ruling council’s decision to ban French media outlets, reported UN News.
“We are deeply dismayed by the Malian media regulator’s decision to definitively suspend Radio France International [RFI] and France24,” said Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet on Friday.
Ms. Shamdasani said the suspensions are the latest in a string of actions curtailing press freedom and the freedom of expression in Mali and come at a time when more scrutiny is needed.
According to OHCHR, Mali’s military leaders first imposed the suspensions on RFI and France 24 on 16 March. Both broadcasters had been accused of airing false allegations about reports of human rights violations by the Malian army.
Earlier this week, the High Authority for Communication announced that those provisional suspensions would be definitive.
On Friday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also called on the authorities to reverse their decision to ban RFI and France 24.
Tensions between Mali and France have increased since Colonel Assimi Goita led a military coup on August 8, 2020, that overthrew elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was supported by France.
In June 2021, France stopped its joint military operations with Malian forces awaiting a guarantee from Mali’s ruling council to restore that civilian rule.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a withdrawal of military troops, about 5,100 soldiers, stationed in the region since 2013 under its so-called Operation Barkhane spanning five countries in the Sahel – Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger.
In response to the army’s power grab in Mali, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc and the African Union suspended Mali from their organizations and threatened sanctions.
The OHCHR has called on Mali’s military leaders to reverse the ban on media outlets and allow independent media to work freely in the country.
