Malian private television station Joliba TV News ceased broadcasting Tuesday, according to AFP, after the military regime decided to revoke its licence following a complaint from the neighbouring Burkina Faso’s junta.

The two West African states have been ruled by military regimes since coups in 2020 and 2022, joining together with junta-led Niger to form the confederation the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The Malian High Authority for Communication (HAC) decided late last week to revoke Joliba’s licence over a complaint by authorities in Burkina regarding comments aired by the broadcaster earlier this month.

The comments were made by Issa Kaou N’Djim, a Malian political figure who previously supported junta chief Colonel Assimi Goita before distancing himself.

N’Djim was subsequently arrested in Bamako for “offences committed publicly against a foreign head of state”, and is due to be in court next month.