Mali has suspended French public broadcaster RFI and France 24 after French media reports on alleged gross human rights violations by the Malian army (FAMa) and mercenaries from the Wagner paramilitary group.
A statement by Malian government spokesperson Col Abdoulaye Maiga on 17 March accused the two media outlets of "destabilising the transition, demoralising the Malian people and discrediting the valiant FAMa".
"Therefore, the government of the republic of Mali (...) in accordance with the laws and regulations in Mali suspends until further notice the broadcasting of RFI on shortwave and FM and of France 24 TV as well as all their digital platforms nationwide," the statement shared by Mali's government on Twitter added.
Col Maiga also criticised remarks by the UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet earlier in March urging the authorities to look into abuses, as well as a Human Rights Watch report on 15 March documenting widespread atrocities linked to FAMa.
"[Mali] categorically rejects these false allegations against the valiant FAMa," he said.
A Malian newspaper on 15 March accused French media of "jealousy" toward FAMa's victories against Islamist militants in operations launched last December when Wagner mercenaries are believed to have arrived in Mali.
A pro-junta group also demanded for Mali's military authorities to expel journalists from the French outlets by 31 March.
Mali has repeatedly denied the presence of Wagner contractors and said Russian "military instructors" are supporting the army in counterinsurgency operations.
In January, Mali expelled a journalist working for a French pan-African publication.
Russian involvement in the west African nation has triggered a diplomatic and security fallout with Western partners, as well as neighbouring countries under the Economic Community of West African States.
By BBC Monitoring
CREDIT: Twitter.com in French 17 Mar 22
