Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Observer
Published on 2024-04-13 08:15:37
Mali’s junta recently issued an order that prohibits media outlets from reporting on the activities of political parties and associations. The order was issued by Mali’s high authority for communication and was distributed on social media. This ban covers all forms of media including television, radio, online, and print newspapers.
The ban came just one day after the junta suspended all activities of political parties until further notice. The military cited the need to maintain public order as the reason behind this decision. The communications authority warned that media outlets that defy the ban could face warnings or even closure.
Local and international media groups have strongly condemned this move. The Mali media association Maison de la Presse urged journalists to stand tall, remain unified, and mobilize to defend citizens’ right to access information. They also encouraged reporters to continue covering political issues in the country.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on the junta to immediately lift the ban. Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa program, expressed that Malian citizens have the right to be informed about crucial developments in the country’s political life, and the press must not be hindered from doing their job.
Mali’s National Commission for Human Rights, an advisory body to the government, also expressed concern about the ban. They stated that instead of calming the social climate, such restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms could potentially incite trouble and tension, which the country does not need.
This crackdown in Mali comes at a time of broader instability in the West African country. Mali has witnessed two military coups since 2020 and is grappling with threats posed by militant groups associated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State. The conditions for media reporting in Mali are already perilous, with a risk of being targeted by militant groups, especially for journalists working outside the capital city of Bamako.
French reporter Olivier Dubois was held hostage for nearly two years by a group affiliated with al-Qaeda after being abducted in the city of Gao in 2021. He was eventually freed in March last year, along with an American aid worker who had also been kidnapped. Mali currently ranks 113 out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, indicating a challenging environment for journalism.
Despite these challenges, media outlets and press freedom organizations continue to push for the lifting of the ban on reporting political activities. They stress the importance of a free press in informing the public and holding those in power accountable. As the situation in Mali remains precarious, the role of the media in providing independent and accurate information becomes all the more crucial.
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