Mali withdraws RFI and France 24 licences

The Malian government has withdrawn the operating licences of the international radio and TV services RFI and France 24.

The country’s High Authority of Communication said: “The licence granted to France Medias Monde [FMM] to establish and operate Radio France International, RFI, services in Mali under convention No. 055/HAC-MALI/2018 of 11 June 2018 is hereby permanently withdrawn.”

The ruling means that the two services cannot be carried by any Malian TV or radio distributor, and it also means that the online services of the broadcasters cannot be carried on Mali-based mobile phone operators.

Reacting, France Médias Monde condemned the move, saying: “France Médias Monde strongly contests such a measure and intends to appeal this decision. It will use all other possible means of appeal.

“We will continue to cover the news in Mali, which is of interest to the whole of Africa as well as the rest of the world. All technical solutions will be implemented to make our media accessible to Malians who wish to continue to receive free, expert information that is open to the world. FMM stresses its commitment to the independence and freedom of information.”

Update

Media watchdog RSF unblocks RFI and France 24 in Mali

29th April 2022

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says it has unblocked French media outlets  in Mali  a day after the country’s military rulers revoked their operating licences.

RSF said in a tweet that RFI and France 24 were back online  as part of its Operation Collateral Freedom, which was launched in 2015 and “is currently enabling 47 websites in 24 countries (including eight sites in Russia) to circumvent censorship by their governments”.