Mali’s ruling junta has shut down the signal of Joliba TV News after a debate in which a prominent politician criticized the military leaders of neighboring Burkina Faso, a journalist for the channel reported Tuesday.
Attaher Halidou, the journalist who chaired the debate, told The Associated Press that the authorities cut off their signal but expressed hope it would be restored soon. The incident follows the recent arrest of politician Issa Kaou N’Djim, who claimed during the debate that Burkina Faso’s military government fabricated evidence of a failed coup in September. The director of Joliba TV was also questioned by authorities.
The move to block Joliba TV’s signal is the latest step in a crackdown on press freedom and political dissent in Mali, which has been under military rule since 2020. Earlier this year, the junta arrested opposition politicians and activists, and banned media coverage of political parties.
Mali’s Press House, a media rights group, threatened to re-broadcast the debate if authorities revoke Joliba’s license. The group’s president, Bandiougou Danté, said they are negotiating with authorities for a solution to restore the channel’s signal and protect press freedoms.
N’Djim, a former vice president of Mali’s National Transitional Council, distanced himself from the junta, advocating for a return to democracy. He was previously imprisoned in 2021 for criticizing the military regime on social media.
Mali, along with Niger and Burkina Faso, is part of the Alliance of Sahel States, a mutual defense pact formed in 2023. The security situation in the region has worsened, with rising extremist attacks and allegations of government forces killing civilians suspected of aiding militants.