Circle 19 Emerges as Crucial Voice for Information Freedom in China
September 12, 2024
Journalist Murat Ağırel Faces Death Threats and Surveillance in Escalating Press Freedom Crisis in Turkey
September 12, 2024
September 12, 2024 – Greece –
Mali’s media regulator, the High Authority for Communication (HAC), has suspended two French television channels—TV5Monde and LCI—over their coverage of sensitive security issues, deepening concerns about press freedom under the ruling military junta.
On September 5, 2024, HAC imposed a three-month suspension on TV5Monde, citing its report on a drone strike in Tinzaouatene, northern Mali. The regulator accused the broadcaster of presenting unbalanced coverage by failing to include the Malian military’s perspective. The report, which aired in late August, discussed civilian casualties allegedly caused by the Malian armed forces.
Two weeks earlier, on August 23, HAC suspended LCI, a French private news channel owned by TF1, for two months. Authorities alleged that a July broadcast had made “false accusations” about the Malian army and its Russian military allies, referring to Wagner Group-linked forces.
These suspensions are part of a broader pattern of media repression since Mali’s 2021 military coup. French broadcasters RFI and France 24 have been banned since 2022 for reporting on alleged military abuses, while France 2 was suspended earlier in 2024. Independent journalists have also faced growing threats, including surveillance, harassment, and forced exile.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the actions, stating that “reporting critically on the activities of Mali’s military and conflict in the country should not be grounds for censorship.” CPJ and other media watchdogs have urged Malian authorities to reverse the suspensions and allow foreign and independent media to operate freely.
Mali currently ranks 119th in Reporters Without Borders’ 2025 World Press Freedom Index, a sharp drop reflecting worsening media conditions. Analysts warn that the junta’s increasing control over the narrative aims to shield its operations and foreign partnerships from scrutiny.
As conflict in Mali intensifies and allegations of human rights abuses mount, access to independent, international reporting remains vital. The suspension of TV5Monde and LCI underscores the urgent need for global attention and pressure to safeguard press freedom in the region.
Reference –
https://www.modernghana.com/news/1341184/malian-media-regulator-suspends-tv5monde-and-lci.html
