BAMAKO, Mali — The junta governing Mali has severed the broadcast signal of Joliba TV News following remarks made by a notable politician who criticized the military government of Burkina Faso during a live debate, according to a journalist from the channel.
Attaher Halidou, the journalist who moderated the discussion, expressed hope that the channel’s signal would be restored soon after the abrupt shutdown. “This morning, the authorities cut off our TV channel signal, but we’re still hopeful that they’ll restore it soon,” Halidou stated.
Earlier this month, Malian authorities detained politician Issa Kaou N’Djim after he asserted during the televised debate that the military leadership of Burkina Faso had fabricated evidence concerning a purported coup attempt in September. Additionally, the director of Joliba TV was also interrogated by the government in connection with the matter.
The interruption of Joliba TV’s transmission adds to ongoing tensions surrounding press freedom and political dissent in Mali, which has been under military control since 2020. In June, authorities arrested 11 opposition politicians along with several activists, reinforcing previous measures prohibiting media from covering the functioning of political parties and associations.
The Press House of Mali, which advocates for journalists’ rights and media expression in the country, threatened on Sunday to rebroadcast the contentious debate if the junta proceeded with revoking Joliba’s license. “We are in discussions with the Malian authorities to find a comprehensive resolution that addresses not only the restoration of Joliba TV’s signal but also the potential withdrawal of its operating license and other issues regarding press freedom,” said Bandiougou Danté, president of the press advocacy group.
N’Djim previously served as one of the vice presidents of Mali’s National Transitional Council, the legislative body under the junta. He eventually distanced himself from the military regime, advocating for a return to democratic elections. Notably, in 2021, he was sentenced to six months in prison for criticizing the junta on social media platforms.
Since a series of coups, Mali has continuously been managed by military governments, which arose in response to widespread dissatisfaction with prior democratically elected administrations over security concerns. Alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, Mali is part of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), established in 2023 as a mutual defense pact among the three nations.
Recent analyses indicate that the security landscape in the AES member countries has deteriorated, marked by an unprecedented rise in attacks from extremist groups. Moreover, government forces have faced allegations of killing civilians suspected of collaborating with militant organizations.