The Niger authorities suspended BBC radio for three months this Thursday, December 12. The English-speaking radio station is accused of having published, according to the authorities, unofficial reports concerning the latest attacks in the country. The suspension concerns the mention of the attack on the village of Chatoumane which left more than a hundred dead; an attack that the authorities denied on Wednesday evening, citing “unfounded assertions”. This Thursday evening, following the meeting of the Council of Ministers, the government announced in a press release that it was filing a complaint against RFI.
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In its news this afternoon, BBC Africa announced that “ suspected militants launched two simultaneous attacks in the village of Chatoumane and in the Téra area » as well as a death toll of 130. It didn’t take much for the authorities to suspend the radio for three months.
The BBC is accused of broadcasting “ erroneous information tending to destabilize social tranquility and undermine the morale of the troopsare who fight against jihadists », According to a press release from the Minister of Communication, Sidi Mohamed Raliou.
On Wednesday evening, the general staff of the armed forces stated on public television an official denial concerning the attack on Chatoumane and declared that it was “ unfounded assertions ” And “ a campaign of intoxication orchestrated by adversaries of the Nigerien people aimed at undermining the morale of our troops and sowing division between the populations and our valiant FDS “.
According to security and medical sources, at least 90 soldiers fell, as well as around fifty civilians caught in the fighting.
Since the military coup of July 2023, media organizations and journalists in Niger face difficulties in the exercise of their profession. A week after Mohamed Bazoum took power, RFI and France 24 were suspended in Niger and remain suspended today.
The Nigerien regime also announced this Thursday evening “ file a complaint » against RFI, accused of “ orchestrate » « a vast disinformation campaign », Specifies the press release from the Council of Ministers of December 12.
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