Mali cuts TV station’s signal after it criticises Burkina Faso junta

Mali’s ruling junta cut the signal of Jobila TV News after a politician criticised the military junta running Burkina Faso in a televised debate, a journalist for the channel said on November 26th according to Africa News and agencies.

“This morning, the authorities cut off our TV channel signal, but we’re still hopeful that they’ll restore it soon,” the journalist who chaired the debate, Attaher Halidou, told The Associated Press.

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Malian authorities arrested and jailed politician Issa Kaou N’Djim after he claimed during the debate on Jobila TV that Burikna Faso’s junta had fabricated evidence of a failed coup two months ago. The broadcaster’s director was also questioned by authorities.

The Press House of Mali, which represents Malian journalists and media, threatened on November 24th to rebroadcast the televised debate if Jobila’s license was revoked by authorities.

“We are in talks with the Malian authorities to find a global solution that not only concerns the restoration of Joliba TV’s signal, but also the threat of withdrawal of its license and all other factors concerning press freedom,” organisation president Bandiougou Danté told The Associated Press.

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N’Djim was one of the vice presidents of Mali’s legislative body under the junta, the National Transitional Council. He went on to distance himself from the junta and said he wanted a return to electoral democracy. He received a six-month prison sentence in 2021 after criticising the regime.

Africa News, AP