The ax fell for RFI and France 24 in Mali: the broadcasting of the two French audiovisual media, already cut off since mid-March, was definitively suspended on Wednesday, a sign of an escalation of tensions between Paris and Bamako.
France Médias Monde (FMM), parent company of RFI and France 24, reacted in a press release, “strongly contesting such a measure” and promising to use “all other possible remedies”. The group said it received Wednesday notification of this decision from the High Authority for Communication of Mali.
“We will continue to cover the news in Mali which is of interest to all of Africa and the rest of the world. All technical solutions will be implemented to make our media accessible to Malians who wish to continue to receive free, expert information that is open to the world,” continues FMM.
“Mirror websites”, “like in Russia”
The station and the channel had already been cut since mid-March “on the FM network for RFI and by the operators who distribute television on site for France 24”, specified the group.
On the other hand, RFI remained “accessible by short waves, a technical means widely used in Africa, in particular by populations far from large cities”, just like France 24 “by direct satellite reception”, according to the group.
Social networks also remained accessible and the two media “will benefit, as in Russia, in partnership with RSF, from mirror websites, via addresses that cannot be cut by the Malian authorities”.
“Serious” decision according to Macron
The junta had ordered the suspension of the two media on March 17 after the publication by RFI and France 24 of information according to which the Malian army was involved in abuses against civilians. A decision then described as “serious” by Emmanuel Macron.
The Malian government immediately announced that it was initiating “a procedure (…) to suspend until further notice the broadcasting” of the two French public media.
Since then, France Médias Monde has been defending itself and wants to take “defamation action in France and Mali, following the publication” of a press release (…) “in which the Malian government compares the alleged actions of RFI and France 24 to the infamous practices and role of radio Mille Collines”.
The French army accused of “espionage”
“These accusations, which refer to the radio having encouraged the genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994, in addition to being totally unfounded, are extremely serious and shocking, undermining the integrity of RFI and France 24 as well as the safety of teams”, denounces FMM, without specifying the number of his teammates still on site.
The final suspension of RFI and France 24 comes as the Malian junta on Tuesday evening accused the French army of “espionage” and “subversion” after the French general staff broadcast videos shot by a nearby drone. from a base in central Mali recently returned by France.
Against the backdrop of the diplomatic crisis with Bamako, Paris announced in February the withdrawal of its soldiers deployed in Mali, an operation to be completed this summer.