Mali: the junta orders the suspension of the broadcasting of RFI and France 24 – franceinfo

France Médias Monde, the parent company of RFI and France 24, deplores this announcement. Article written by Published on 03/17/2022 11:07 Updated on 03/17/2022 14:51 Reading time: 1 min. The Malian junta ordered, on the night of Wednesday March 16 to Thursday March 17, the suspension of the broadcasting of RFI and France 24 in Mali because, according to it, of “false allegations” of abuses committed by the Malian army and reported by the two French media, the government said in a statement. The Malian government “categorically rejects these false allegations against the valiant Fama” (Malian Armed Forces) and “undertakes a procedure (…) to suspend until further notice the broadcasting of RFI (…) and France 24”, specifies the statement signed by Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, government spokesman, and sent to AFP. The broadcasts of the two media continued Thursday morning, AFP noted. pic.twitter.com/g3pXGpEgXC — Presidence Mali (@PresidenceMali) March 17, 2022 The Malian government is particularly targeting a report in which RFI gave the floor to alleged victims of abuses allegedly committed by the Malian army and the private Russian group Wagner. The junta “categorically rejects these allegations against the valiant Fama”, specifies the press release of Colonel Maiga, which goes so far as to compare the action of the two French media “to the practices and the infamous role of the radio ‘Mille Collines'”. which had encouraged the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Such a suspension of two major foreign news media has no recent precedent in Mali. RFI and France 24, which closely cover African news, are widely followed in Mali. France Médias Monde, the parent company of RFI and France 24, takes note and deplores this announcement: “France Médias Monde recalls its attachment to freedom of information and to the professional and balanced work of its teams of journalists.” The French Foreign Ministry denounced “serious attacks on freedom of the press”, and expressed “its concern at the serious allegations of abuse” reported by RFI and France 24 and disputed by the junta. The European Union has deemed the suspension of the two media “unacceptable”. Share: Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share by email Share link