The International Francophone Press Union on Thursday added its voice to a chorus of disapproval over the suspension of France 24 TV station and RFI radio.
The Malian military government is moving to suspend broadcasts by French state-funded international RFI radio and France 24 television channel, accusing the news outlets of reporting “false allegations” that the army killed dozens of civilians.
Reacting to the decision, the media federation noted that the decision of the Malian junta to order, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, the suspension of the broadcasting of RFI and France 24 in Mali is unfortunate.
Such a suspension of two major international news media has no precedent in Mali, the statement said adding that the decision seriously undermines freedom of information and can have harmful consequences on the condition of the journalistic profession in Mali
The International Francophone Press Union wonders about the real motives of this approach, as unexpected as it is brutal, which is similar to an exercise in muzzling the press.
UPF -International expresses its full and unconditional support to RFI and France 24 and calls on the Malian junta to reconsider its decision, the statement added.
CU/abj/APA