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France 24 shut down in Burkina Faso following interview with Al-Qaeda

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Mar 2023 18:53
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The broadcaster rebuked the government's accusations and condemned the decision to suspend the channel without due notice.

Soldiers gather at the funeral of seven troops that were killed by terrorists in August 2018 (AFP)

Burkina Faso authorities on Monday indefinitely suspended French-based TV channel France 24 following the controversial airing of an interview with Yezid Mebarek, a militant leader affiliated with the terror organization AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb).

"The government has taken a responsible decision in the higher interest of the nation to suspend sine die the broadcasting of France 24 programs in the entire national territory," government spokesman Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo said.

Mebarek claimed to be a leading figure in AQIM, which also happens to be affiliated with al-Qaeda.

According to Ouedraogo, providing a platform for extremist organizations is not only equivalent to "acting as a communications office for these terrorists, but, worse, it is providing a space for the legitimization of terrorist actions and hate speech" as examplified by France 24's actions.

The broadcaster, on the other hand, rebuked the government's accusations and condemned the decision to suspend the channel without due notice.

In early December 2022, the government announced the suspension of the broadcasting of Radio France Internationale (RFI), which is also affiliated with France 24.

Both RFI and France 24 have also been suspended in Mali since March 17, 2022, as they were accused to serve the french army in spying operations.

The country's security environment has been stricken by Al-Qaeda-linked insurgencies that spilled over from neighboring Mali in 2015.

Thousands have been killed, more than two million people have fled their homes, and around 40% of the country lies outside government control.

Last month, Burkina Faso's security forces reported on Tuesday that 66 of its servicemen were killed by terrorists in the country's northern commune of Tin-Akoff, near Mali's borders.

As for the number of terrorists who died in the counter-attack, data from security sources indicate the death toll currently stands at 160.