The Malian governing board ordered the suspension of broadcasts by Radio France International (RFI) and France 24 on Thursday after reports spread that the Malian army is involved in abuses against civilians.
In a statement released Thursday, government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga said that the junta “categorically rejects these false accusations against the valiant FAMA (Malian Armed Forces).”
He added that the board “initiated a process to suspend the release of RFI and France 24 until further notice”.
The European Union (EU) regretted the measure, which it described as an “attack on freedom of information”.
“This decision is unacceptable,” said Nabila Massrali, a spokesman for the EU diplomatic service in a statement, in which he said the allegations raised are “unfounded”.
However, the signal transmitted by both media outlets continued to be received in Mali this Thursday morning, AFP noted.
France Médias Monde, the parent company of RFI and France 24, indicated that it “notes and regrets this announcement”.
The suspension of two major foreign media outlets is unprecedented in recent years in Mali, a country that has been mired in a serious political and security crisis since 2012.
RFI and France 24, which closely cover African news, are widely followed in Mali and other French-speaking countries in Africa.
The Malian government referred to a report released on March 14 and 15 by the RFI, which gave the floor to victims of abuses allegedly committed by the army and the Russian private security group Wagner.
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