Colonel Assimi Goita, leader of Mali’s military junta and president of the CNSP (National Committee for the Salvation of the People), made bold promises back in 2020 about returning the country to civilian rule. An 18-month transition government was supposed to be the solution after a military coup shook Bamako. Yet, here we are, years later, watching as Mali drifts further away from any semblance of democracy.
What They Are saying
Now, the junta is not only clinging to power, but they’re also silencing any critical voices, especially in the media. The latest victim? TV5 Monde. The French-language channel has been slapped with a three-month suspension by the junta for what they claimed was a lack of “balance” in a news report.
Apparently, daring to report on the deaths of civilians during drone strikes in Tinzaouatene without the Malian army’s input was enough to warrant this drastic action. Never mind that the army didn’t respond to the channel’s requests for comment before the report aired. But, of course, in the junta’s world, the truth is only acceptable when it aligns with their version of events.
TV5 Monde, quite rightfully, expressed regret over the situation, pointing out that they weren’t even given the chance to defend their report or clarify the facts before the hammer came down. The channel also noted that when they did get the army’s side, it was included in a subsequent report the very next day. Yet, that wasn’t enough for the powers that be in Mali. Because, let’s face it, balance isn’t what they’re after, it’s control.
Why It Matters
This incident with TV5 Monde is just another chapter in Mali’s growing list of media clampdowns. In fact, the junta has been systematically purging French outlets for some time now. France 24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI) were banned early on. And let’s not forget France 2, which got the boot in 2024, followed closely by LCI in August of the same year. The message is clear: if you’re not playing by the junta’s rules, you’re out.
What’s worse is that foreign correspondents aren’t just being silenced, they’re being forced into exile, or to simply stop working altogether. The junta’s iron grip is tightening, and it’s not just the media that’s feeling the pressure. Political opposition within the country has also been ruthlessly stifled.
Mali, a country once under the thumb of colonial France, has now turned its gaze towards Russia for political and military support. It’s ironic, really. After years of trying to distance itself from its colonial past, the junta has aligned itself with another global power, perhaps hoping that by cozying up to Russia, they can solidify their rule and further suppress any remaining opposition. But at what cost? The country is becoming more isolated, and its people more repressed.
TV5 Monde, with its mission to promote French culture and creativity, might seem like an odd target in this broader crackdown. The channel is owned by a consortium of French, Belgian, Swiss, Canadian, and Quebec public broadcasters—hardly the kind of entity you’d expect to be accused of bias in a country like Mali. Yet, the junta clearly sees it as a threat. Because anything that doesn’t toe the line is dangerous to their narrative.
Bottom Line
In the end, this isn’t just about one news channel or one report. It’s about the broader war on truth in Mali. The military rulers are determined to control the narrative at all costs, even if it means silencing voices that could help the world understand what’s really happening in the country. The suspension of TV5 Monde is just another step in that direction, an attempt to shut out the light and keep the people of Mali in the dark.
