The Higher Council of Communication files a complaint against Joliba TV News with the High Authority of Communication of Mali.
The High Communication Council (CSC) of Burkina Faso officially contacted the High Authority of Communication (HAC) of Mali following comments made during the program “Rendez-vous des idées” broadcast on November 10, 2024 on the Joliba TV News channel. These statements, described as extremely serious, target the Burkinabè government and discredit the country’s authorities by evoking supposed manipulation in a recent case of attempted destabilization.
As part of a discussion on political tensions in Burkina Faso, a guest on the debate show “Rendez-vous des idées” questioned the veracity of information on an attempted destabilization, saying that he It appears to be a set-up orchestrated by the Burkinabè authorities themselves. These statements, widely relayed, provoked a rapid and firm reaction from the CSC of Burkina Faso, which sent an official complaint to the HAC of Mali, due to the dissemination of remarks deemed “insulting” towards the Burkinabè people.
In his letter dated November 12, 2024, the President of the CSC, Wendingondi Louis Modeste Ouédraogo, underlines the harmful impact of such remarks on diplomatic relations and cohesion between the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). According to the CSC, these unfounded accusations compromise fraternal relations between the countries of the Sahel, and the program goes against the ideals of independence and dignity promoted by the AES and Guinea.
The CSC of Burkina Faso asks the Malian HAC to take measures against Joliba TV News, considering that the comments made are contrary to the principles of ethics and media responsibility. This intervention is supported by the CSC’s call for action to prevent such declarations from fueling tensions in a region already marked by security and political stability challenges.
This complaint comes at a time when media regulators from AES member states and Guinea plan to meet next December at a forum dedicated to the challenges of media regulation in the region. The President of the CSC sees this event as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between regulatory bodies to promote quality and responsible information, with respect for people and their leaders.
MD/Sf/ac/APA
Senegal
