Mali's governing junta ordered Thursday the suspension of broadcasts of Radio France International (RFI) and France 24, after they spread reports that the Malian army is involved in abuses against civilians.
In a statement released Thursday, government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga said the junta “categorically rejects these false accusations against the valiant FAMA (Malian Armed Forces).”
He added that the board “initiated a process to suspend until further notice the dissemination of RFI and France 24.”
The European Union (EU) regretted the move, which it described as an “attack on freedom of information”.
“This decision is unacceptable,” said Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for the EU diplomatic service in a statement, in which he said that the allegations raised are “unfounded.”
However, the signal broadcast by both media outlets continued to be received in Mali this Thursday morning, the AFP noted.
France Médias Monde, parent company of RFI and France 24, indicated that it “notes and deplores 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 cover African news closely, 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 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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