The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemns Mali’s decision to ban two major French broadcasters operating inside the country.
“We are deeply dismayed by the Mali media regulator’s decision to definitely suspend Radio France International (RFI) and France24,” said UNOHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
Furthermore, she adds, “we call Mali’s transitional military authorities to reverse this ban and allow independent media to work in the country.”
We are deeply dismayed by the #Malian media regulator’s decision to definitively suspend Radio France International (RFI) & France24.
We call on Mali’s transitional military authorities to allow independent media to work freely in the country.
👉https://t.co/QIM7VXv1cq pic.twitter.com/x3SaPXufCY
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) April 29, 2022
In the first suspension announced by Mali’s leaders on the 16th of March, the two media outlets were accused of airing false allegations about reports of human rights violations by the authorities.
Using digital surveillance tools currently makes it extremely difficult for journalists, human rights activists, and bloggers to operate inside Mali and protect their sources. As the OHCHR official has rightly pointed out the prevailing “climate of self-censorship” among journalists.
According to Reporters Without Borders, Mali ranked 99th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, 2021.
Therefore, the suspensions are curtailing Press freedom and freedom of expression in Mali. “Our office continues to document serious allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in many parts of the country, and we remained seriously concerned by the steps to further shrink the already limited civic space,” said the spokesperson for the UN OHCHR, Ravina Shamdasani.