Mali's military rulers are to take two French broadcasters, RFI radio and France 24 television, off-air in the country, after accusing them of reporting false allegations.
Mali says it was taking the action because both channels had reported on allegations that Malian soldiers had killed numerous civilians in recent months.
Mali government spokesman Col Abdoulaye Maïga says that these false allegations were made in reports on 14 and 15 March, in which RFI gave the floor to alleged victims of abuses allegedly committed by the Malian army and the Russian mercenary group Wagner.
France Médias Monde says it deplores this decision and reiterates its attachment to freedom of information and to the professional and neutrality of its journalists.