RSF Urges Niger to Lift Ban on French Media Outlets
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly condemned Niger's military government for suspending nine major French media outlets, labeling the move as an abusive attempt to stifle press freedom. The junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani and backed by Russia, accused organizations such as AFP, France 24, and RFI of endangering national unity and public order without providing specific evidence. This decision coincides with heightened instability in neighboring Mali, where Russian-backed forces are battling separatist and Islamist uprisings near Niger's border. RSF described the ban as part of a coordinated strategy within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to repress independent journalism. Since seizing power in 2023, Niger's regime has systematically expelled French security forces and commercial interests, aligning closely with Moscow. The suspension also follows similar actions by Burkina Faso against TV5 Monde, highlighting a regional trend of silencing Western media amidst growing security challenges in the Sahel, which accounted for over half of global terrorism-related deaths in 2024.
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