The UN "deeply dismayed" by the permanent suspension of RFI and France 24 in Mali
The headquarters of France Médias Monde, in Issy-les-Moulineaux in the Hauts-de-Seine.
RFI/Anthony Ravera
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The United Nations said it was "
deeply dismayed
" by the permanent suspension of RFI and France 24 by the transitional authority in Mali.
She asks the junta to cancel this ban and is worried about these “
actions which limit the freedom of the press and freedom of expression
”.
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Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24, which are part of the Frances Médias Monde group, have not been broadcasting in Mali since March 17, 2022.
This suspension became final
on April 27, by decision of the High Authority for Communication of Mali .
This Friday, April 29, the UN reacted to this decision by saying it was "
deeply dismayed
".
"
We call on Mali's transitional military authority to lift this ban and allow independent media to operate freely in the country
," said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights ( OHCHR), during a UN briefing in Geneva.
“
These suspensions are just the latest in a series of actions that limit freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Mali and it comes at a time when more oversight is needed, not less
,” she added.
Mali: permanent suspension of @RFI and @FRANCE24
“We call on the transitional military authorities of Mali to reverse this ban and to allow independent media to work freely in the country”.
- @UNHumanRights@ONU_Francehttps://t.co/NWHk8voE4z
— UN News (@ONUinfo) April 29, 2022
The services of Michelle Bachelet, the former Chilean president who has headed the OHCHR since 2018, continues to document allegations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses in many parts of Mali.
“
We are still very concerned about the measures taken to further limit an already very restricted civic space
”, they indicate.
“The current climate (in Mali) has a chilling effect on journalists and bloggers.
The latter censor themselves and no longer cover sensitive subjects, for fear of displeasing the authorities.
»
Mali: the UN condemns the cut of RFI and France 24
The decision to sanction RFI and France 24 comes as the Malian junta accused the French army
of "
espionage
" and "
subversion
"
after the French general staff broadcast videos shot by a drone near 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.
This operation should be completed this summer.
► Also to listen: Mali: how to continue to listen to RFI and watch France 24?
(
With
AFP
)
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