Tafouk TV, a new television channel launched on 16 September, is the media arm of the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), the coalition of the military juntas that currently rule Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The channel broadcasts on the national television stations of the three countries and features locally produced programs that emphasize a sovereignist, patriotic narrative aligned with the juntas’ political agenda. The initiative has reportedly received encouragement from Russia, which has been providing political and military support to the AES. The launch comes amid a tightening of press freedom in the region, with reports of increasing repression of independent journalists and media outlets. The article was published by Jeune Afrique journalist Matteo Maillard at 07:53 GMT and updated at 08:37 GMT. It is estimated to take six minutes to read.
Article source: JeuneAfrique | Image credit: JeuneAfrique