Highlights “diffuse cooling effect on journalists and bloggers” about the situation in the West African country, OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that the move against Radio France International (RFI) and France24 was just “the latest in a series of (similar) actions” by the authorities.
“We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the media regulator Malia to definitively suspend Radio France International (RFI) and France24,” Ms. Shamdasani said. “We call on the transitional military authorities of Mali to lift this ban and allow independent media to operate freely in the country.”
Mali has seen two armed incidents in the past two years, the first in August 2020, the second in May last year.
Disabled
According to OHCHR, RFI and France 24 first received their suspensions on March 16. Ms. Shamdasani explained that both broadcasters have been accused of broadcasting “false accusations” about fraudulent reports. human rights abuses committed by the Malian military, adding that “on April 27, the High Media announced that such pauses would be ‘final'”. .
The OHCHR official said the use of digital surveillance tools was increasingly making it difficult for journalists, bloggers and human rights activists to operate safely inside Mali and protect their sources. surname.self-censorship environment“Between reporters and rights defenders.
Brutal report
“More, not less, need to carefully monitor” the actions of the authorities, Shamdasani stressed, her comments came after about 500 people are believed to have been executed. decided in Moura, a village in central Mali, earlier this month.
To date, UN investigators have not been granted access to Moura, where the Malian Armed Forces, accompanied by foreign servicemen, are believed to have committed the murders and serious violations of the law. other important. Since the atrocity occurred, OHCHR has continued to record other serious allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in many parts of the country.
Amid ongoing regional insecurity outside Mali and across the Sahel due to climate shocks, violence linked to competition for dwindling resources, and mass displacement, Ms. Shamdasani warned that there is “a disturbing trend in several other countries in West Africa, and this applies not only to freedom of expression and subsequently the work of journalists, but also to the work of journalists. both the civic space and civil society at large. ; there seems to be a growing intolerance towards dissidents. “
The problem extends beyond Africa and is particularly relevant first World Press Freedom Day on May 2, the OHCHR official emphasized. This year’s theme is Journalism in the Digital Siege.
Dangerous job
“We’re seeing journalists taking enormous risks trying to get information out there. We’ve talked quite often about all the disinformation in the conflict, in the current conflict in Ukraine, actually coming from both sides, and the important role journalists play and the risks involved. enormous risk they take to obtain independent, objective information. we.”
