Paris‑based media watchdog Reporters without Borders (RSF) warns that journalists are increasingly unable to cover events freely in the Sahel, especially after military coups in Mali and Burkina Faso. The organization cautions that the Sahel—stretching across the continent from west to east—could become “the biggest non‑information zone in Africa.” The recent expulsion of journalists from the French newspapers *Le Monde* and *Libération* by Burkina Faso’s ruling junta has further complicated the situation, although RSF’s latest report was completed before that expulsion.
The report examines Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and the northern part of Benin, all of which face similar security challenges. It describes journalists caught between jihadist violence, armed groups, and authorities that restrict, pressure, suspend or expel foreign correspondents. The arrival of the Russian private security company Wagner in Mali is highlighted as a negative factor. Between 2013 and 2023, five journalists were murdered and six went missing; nearly 120 journalists were arrested or detained, with 72 of those cases occurring in Chad alone.
Large areas have become inaccessible to reporters because they are too dangerous, and sources are “terrified” of retaliation from armed groups and authorities, preventing people from speaking to journalists. Military authorities in Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad have sought “to control the media through prohibitive or restrictive measures, as well as arbitrary attacks or arrests” since seizing power. RSF also notes the suspension of French media outlets France 24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI) in Mali and Burkina Faso.
The expulsion or forced departure of foreign correspondents whose accreditation has expired leaves the field “open to media favorable to the pro‑Russian narrative defending the presence of Wagner mercenaries in the region,” contributing to an “explosion of disinformation,” according to the watchdog. RSF further points to the deteriorating financial situation of the media, caused by the crisis and a decline in state subsidies.
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