Niger suspend France 24, RFI signals

Niger Soldiers have suspended France 24 and RFI signals across the country.

The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland decided yesterday, August 3, to cut the signals of RFI and France 24.

According to France Media World, this initiative is taken “outside any conventional and legal framework and deprives the citizens of their access to free, independent and verified information”.

 In a press release made public after the decision, we learn that RFI programs in French, Hausa, and Fufulde continue to be broadcast on short waves.  Their listeners and viewers also continue to follow them on Facebook and YouTube.

The press release from the two media made public on Thursday, August 3, recalls that in Niger, “RFI has seven FM relays, in addition to short waves which broadcast its programs in French, Hausa, and Fufulde, as well as several satellite access”.

The channels also have several partner radio stations which broadcast their programs in the above-mentioned languages. 

 Relations between France and its former colony Niger have deteriorated sharply since the July 26 coup.  France carried out an evacuation operation, which made it possible to bring out of Niger, 1,079 people of different nationalities from the country in crisis, including 577 French.