Prosecutors from the military-ruled nations of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have launched a coordinated investigation into French journalist and researcher Wassim Nasr, accusing him of “apology of terrorism” and “complicity” in alleged terrorist acts. The move, announced Wednesday, marks the latest action against Western media in the region.
Nasr, who works for French broadcaster France 24, provided a detailed analysis of a rare deadly jihadi attack in Mali’s capital, Bamako, on September 17. Prosecutors allege that Nasr had been in contact with the attackers, receiving real-time information about their location, objectives, and the death toll.
In a statement aired on national television in all three countries, prosecutors accused Nasr of making comments that “amount to blatant acts of publicity and support of the terrorists,” according to Niger’s deputy prosecutor Manzo Hadiza.
Responding to the allegations, Nasr told The Associated Press via WhatsApp, “They are trying to intimidate anyone still contradicting their storytelling about security and control.” He condemned the investigation as an attack on journalism and called for support for local journalists and civil society activists working under the junta regimes.
This development comes amid growing concerns about press freedom in the Sahel region. Reporters Without Borders recently highlighted increased security risks for local journalists in the area. The three countries have struggled with an insurgency for over a decade, battling armed groups allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
Following military coups in recent years, the ruling juntas in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have expelled French forces and turned to Russian mercenary units for security assistance. However, analysts suggest the security situation has worsened under junta rule, with a record number of attacks and civilian casualties.
The military governments have also intensified crackdowns on political dissent and journalism. Mali has banned media reporting on political party activities, Burkina Faso suspended BBC and Voice of America radio stations, and Niger ordered the closure of the “Maison de la Presse,” an umbrella organization for journalists’ associations.
France 24, Nasr’s employer, is currently suspended in all three countries due to its coverage of the insurgency.
AP
