• Niger’s military junta suspended most major French media outlets, including AFP, France 24, and RFI, accusing them of endangering national unity and public order without providing evidence.
  • The suspension coincides with the aftermath of a major militant uprising in neighboring Mali, also run by a Russian-backed military government.
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the move as part of a coordinated strategy to stifle press freedom within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
  • Niger’s military government came to power in 2023 using anti-French sentiment and promised a swift return to democracy, but instead deepened ties with Russia.
  • Burkina Faso, an ally of Niger and Mali in the AES, also suspended TV5 Monde earlier this week.

Sources & Links