Mali Suspends French-language Channel TV5 Monde For 3 Months For Spreading Unverified Information

Mali has suspended French-language channel TV5 Monde for three months for violations of media laws after a report aired on August 26, during the channel’s Africa programme, Malijet reported.

This decision, made on Monday, September 9, by Mali’s High Authority for Communication (HAC), was announced on Wednesday, September 11.

According to reports, TV5 Monde had reported on the death of at least 15 people in drone strikes in the northern town of Tinzaouatene without taking into account the Malian army’s version of events.

HAC said the report was unfair and showed a lack of caution by the journalist, who used unverified information.

This suspension follows a previous warning given to TV5 Monde on May 15, 2023, for similar issues.

Mali’s interim President, Colonel Assimi Goïta, came into power in 2021. In 2022, Mali ended its defence accords with France, citing flagrant violations of its national sovereignty and France’s failure to tackle insecurity despite deploying a large force to help stop the jihadist offensive plaguing the nation.

Mali has since then suspended several French outlets, including France 24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI), for spreading false accusations about human rights violations by the Malian Armed Forces, which the government said were part of a coordinated effort to destabilise the country and discredit its military.

The government also suspended France 2 in early 2024 and channel LCI in August for advocating terrorism, defaming the Malian armed forces, and inciting destabilisation.

Based on Decree No. 2016-0626 of August 25, 2016, TV5 Monde will be removed from Mali’s broadcasting packages for three months.

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