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 told AFP that it had received notification of this decision from Mali's High Authority for Communication on Wednesday.

"We will continue to cover 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 information, expert and open to the world", continues FMM.

The station and the channel had already been cut off since mid-March "on the FM network for RFI and by the operators who distribute television on site for France 24", the group told AFP.

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".

Diplomatic crisis

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.

FAMa soldiers training in the Menaka camp of the Takuba multinational force, December 7, 2021 Thomas COEX AFP / Archives

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 initiate a "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".

"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.

Demonstration of support for the ruling junta in Mali, in Bamako on January 14, 2022 FLORENT VERGNES AFP / Archives

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.

© 2022 AFP