Given the documented nature of our broadcasts that led to the shutdown of our transmitters in Mali itself, in support of these shutdowns, Maliweb denounces both a "disinformation campaign", as well as what the website calls "unfounded reports filled with inaccuracies about the Malian army".

Le Pélican writes nothing different. According to this Malian newspaper, "Western powers, led by France, will never leave the Transition Authorities alone". For Le Pélican, there is no doubt, "the enemies of Mali (...) will do everything they can to slow down the ongoing economic integration between Bamako and Nouakchott. They will never want relations between the two countries to be at their best".

But beyond Mali's borders, the press largely condemns the shutdown of our transmitters. Witness Niger. "It is very serious in itself in any country when authorities resort to expelling a journalist, imprisoning them, or placing a lid on a media outlet. It's total", thus estimates Mourya, the voice of Niger. According to this Nigerien newspaper, RFI and France 24, accused "of pouring oil on the fire or spreading false news have it easy (...) when a government begins to crack down on national or foreign press it doesn't look good".

Certainly, Mali and France have severed ties, "but Mali would benefit from foreign press, including RFI and France 24, remaining there", estimates Mourya.

Witness Burkina Faso, where the newspaper Le Pays denounces a "serious violation of press freedom so dearly won, sometimes at the cost of the lives of certain media professionals".

According to this daily, the authorities of Bamako's transition have just "crossed the line too far (...) What do Assimi Goïta and his brothers-in-arms expect from the media?", asks Le Pays. "That they spend time flattering them? If that is the case, they are greatly mistaken. For the role of a journalist is not to praise leaders but to properly inform the public while pointing out, if necessary, shortcomings in order to allow them to correct course. In any case, it is not by breaking the thermometer that Malian authorities will bring down the fever".

L'Observateur Paalga writes little differently, believing that "it is certainly not by cutting off the signal of the media in question that they will exonerate the (Malian Armed Forces) from the serious accusations leveled against them. On the contrary, Colonel Assimi Goïta and his men would do well to conduct independent investigations to remove any doubt, insofar as the information, if verified, would not be to the honor of soldiers who must be able to fight a bloodthirsty enemy without losing their soul through reckless acts", urges L'Observateur Paalga.

Olivia Yacé is the most beautiful

Glamour and pride, finally, in Côte d'Ivoire: Olivia Yacé, the national Miss, has just been elected first runner-up at Miss World 2021 in Puerto Rico. Due to coronavirus, the finals of the competition had been delayed, but she did not falter, the daughter of Jean-Marc Yacé, mayor of the commune of Cocody, an agglomeration in Abidjan, and granddaughter of Philippe Yacé, "traveling companion" of the "father" of the Ivorian nation Félix Houphouët Boigny, recalls Soir Info, "in other words, she belongs to the nobility of this country".

"Olivia Yacé elected 1st runner-up" at Miss World, reads the front page of the daily Le Patriote, with a photo of the Miss to support it.

As for the history-loving newspaper Le Temps, it emphasizes that Olivia Yacé "enters into history". And with good reason, since never before her had an Ivorian Miss set foot on the Miss World podium.