The Malian government has suspended the French-language television channel TV5 Monde from broadcasting in the country “until further notice,” following its May 3 coverage of an opposition protest against the dissolution of political parties.
In a letter dated May 9, Mali’s High Authority for Communication (HAC) accused the network of lacking impartiality, claiming the report only reflected opposition views and included defamatory remarks about the security forces.
This move adds to a growing list of restrictions on international media in Mali.
TV5 Monde had previously faced a three-month suspension in September 2024, while France 24 and Radio France International (RFI) remain banned.
Press freedom in Mali continues to decline, with the country dropping from 114th to 119th place in Reporters Without Borders’ 2025 index.
The organization highlights increasing state pressure on journalists, arbitrary arrests, and self-censorship, worsened by the withdrawal of public funding and the fragile state of the media sector.
