French international broadcaster TV5MONDE has been taken off air in Burkina Faso for six months after authorities in the West African country accused it of spreading disinformation.
The Superior Council of Communication (SCC) said the Paris-based channel was spreading “malicious insinuations” and “disinformation” about the country’s transitional government.
Last month, a report by US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the army of killing 223 civilians in retaliation for villagers aiding armed Islamists.
Burkina Faso’s military government has denied the allegations.
TV5MONDE’s reporting of the HRW report had already led to TV5 being given a two-week suspension with other broadcasters including the BBC and Voice of America also picking up suspensions.
