Niger Blocks RFI and France 24 in Wake of Coup

NigerTZai/Wikimedia Commons
Maourey Avenue (Rue ST-3) in the 'Stade' neighborhood in downtown Niamey,.
3 August 2023
Committee to Protect Journalists (New York)

New York — The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned Niger's suspension of broadcasts by French outlets Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24.

"Authorities in Niger should immediately unblock access to RFI and France 24's broadcasts and ensure all media in the country can operate freely and without fear of reprisal," said Angela Quintal, CPJ's Africa Program Coordinator, from Durban, South Africa, on Thursday. "It is deeply unfortunate that the military in Niger seems to be taking pages from the post-coup playbook written by Mali and Burkina Faso in seeking to deny the public access to news and information at a time it is most needed."

The blocking of RFI and France 24, which are subsidiaries of the French government-owned France Médias Monde, began Thursday, August 3, according to Mariama Soumana, a journalist based in Niger who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, and a report by the privately owned Jeune Afrique news site.

An August 3, 2023, screen grab of the France 24 television channel in Niger shows a black screen with the words, 'Program blocked' and 'The channel does not have the broadcast rights for this program and we have therefore been asked to conceal it.' (Photo: Mariama Soumana)

Soumana also shared with CPJ a photo of the France 24 television channel in Niger from Thursday afternoon showing a black screen with the words, "Program blocked" and "The channel does not have the broadcast rights for this program and we have therefore been asked to conceal it."

France Médias Monde denounced the blocking of its broadcasters, calling it a "suspension" made "outside of any conventional and legal framework." Content from both outlets remains accessible online, according to the statement and Soumana.

On July 26, soldiers from Niger's military seized control of the country from democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum. Since then, people in Niger have rallied in opposition to France and attacked its embassy. RFI and France 24 have also been suspended in Burkina Faso and Mali following military coups.

Read the original article on CPJ.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2023 Committee to Protect Journalists. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.