Sahel States Launch Tafouk TV to Counter Western Media Narratives
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have launched Tafouk TV, a new regional television channel, with the stated aim of promoting their own narrative and challenging Western media coverage. Broadcasting from Bamako via Canal+, the channel plans to offer news, fact-checking, and geopolitical programs in French, English, and regional languages. This launch is part of a broader effort by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to establish shared political, security, and media institutions as the three countries distance themselves from France and strengthen ties with Russia. Tafouk TV has received backing from Russia and has signed a cooperation agreement with Russia's state-funded RT. The alliance is also reportedly planning to establish a joint news agency. Critics have expressed concerns that the new media network could become a tool for government propaganda and have called for greater media pluralism.
