AMDF Condemns Attacks on Journalists and Media Houses in Mali
Kaduna, Nigeria (16th July, 2020) – Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) condemns strongly the attack on journalists and media houses by demonstrators and law enforcement officers last weekend in Mali. AMDF received a report that both sides attacked journalists and destroyed working tools, including vehicles, belonging to journalists and media houses.
We call on Malian authorities to carry out thorough investigations on the attacks and apply appropriate sanctions on perpetrators of the acts.
Reports say, headquarters of the public media house, Office de Radio-Television du Mali (ORTM), was attacked in Bozola, and equipment worth several hundreds of millions of CFA francs belonging to the media house were vandalised, while some looted by demonstrators.
AMDF also received a report that Hawa Kamissoko of Liberté TV Group was arrested on 10th July by police officers while covering the protest – she was however released the following day.
Another journalist, Moussa Koné, was quoted saying, “I was beaten with batons and my corrective lens crashed to the ground. It’s the same contingent that killed the boy in Badalabougou.”
Similarly, two journalists Harouna Keïta and Fanta Cisse of Groupe Ernergie were reported to have been robbed of their phones, camera and wallets.
In a statement, Editor-in Chief of Groupe Ernergie, Moussa Salif Diarra, condemns the attack on his colleagues saying, “We condemn with last energy this barbaric and despicable act while reassuring that legal proceedings will be initiated for the purpose of finding the perpetrators.”
On 10th July, anti-government protesters staged a massively attended protest that paralysed activities, leading to disruption of the internet and strong police crackdown. About 10 people were reportedly killed in the protest.
The protest organised by M5-RFP (a coalition of the opposition political parties, civil society and religious organisations), which left several buildings vandalised including the National Assembly, was calling for the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita for failure to tackle corruption, mass unemployment and insecurity, among other things.