UN Calls for the Lifting of Media Restrictions in Mali

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warns that Mali's new media restrictions are indicative of a growing intolerance of freedom of expression in the region.

U.N. human rights officials are expressing deep dismay at Mali’s decision Wednesday to permanently suspend Radio France International and France 24 from operating there. Mali's military authorities are being urged to reverse the ban and allow independent media outlets to function freely.

Two international broadcasters were temporarily suspended by the government on March 16, allegedly because of false allegations of human rights violations by the Malian army and Russian mercenaries.

U.N. representative for human rights Ravina Shamdasani stated that the current climate of fear in Mali has a chilling effect on journalists and bloggers. “There is a lot of self-censorship. There is a lot of pressure," she said. "There have been a number of journalists—local, regional, international, who have come under pressure. Licenses revoked.… Journalists are trying to avoid reporting on sensitive topics so that they do not fall foul of the authorities.”

Shamdasani said U.N. observers have documented serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in many parts of Mali. In fact, she said that the current situation in the nation calls for more scrutiny rather than less. Nevertheless, she noted that Mali is not the only country where attacks on freedom of expression and opinion are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity.

“We are seeing a worrying trend in some of the other countries in West Africa as well," she said. "And this applies not only to freedom of expression and then the work of journalists, but also civic space and civil society as a whole. There appears to be a growing intolerance for dissent, unfortunately.” Shamdasani stated that journalists in many countries are under threat, and journalists are increasingly being accused of bias or spreading misinformation in their reporting. There are numerous tools that governments can use to intimidate journalists and prevent the free flow of information.

In her view, governments are increasingly using surveillance to monitor the work of journalists, adding that this will make it more difficult for them to protect their sources, gather information, report on abuses, and hold perpetrators of crimes responsible.