EDIT: We added a clarification on September 14, 2023 at the request of the Ministry of Culture and changed the title of this article.
The denial is firm. “No deprogramming of artists, of any nationality whatsoever, is requested, neither by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor by the Ministry of Culture,” the Ministry of Culture affirmed this Thursday at Le Point.
However, in a letter sent by the regional directorates of cultural affairs (Drac) to drama and choreographic centers and national stages, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this Thursday morning it was prohibiting subsidized stages from collaborating with artists from these three countries, governed by military regimes in crisis with France. Cultural establishments thus learned, according to Le Monde and France Inter, that they had to “suspend, until further notice, all cooperation with the following countries: Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.”
“On instructions from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, it was decided to suspend, until further notice, all cooperation with the following countries: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso. Consequently, all cooperation projects that are carried out by your establishments or your services with institutions or nationals of these three countries must be suspended, without delay, and without any exception […]. Likewise, no invitation from any national of these countries should be issued. As of today, France no longer issues visas to nationals of these three countries without any exception, until further notice. »
Wind rising against this unprecedented ban, the first union of public sector cultural companies Syndeac has already requested a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“No deprogramming of artists, of any nationality whatsoever, is requested, neither by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor by the Ministry of Culture. For security reasons, since August 7, France has suspended the issuance of visas from Niamey, Ouagadougou and Bamako, as well as the implementation in these countries of our cultural cooperation actions,” said the Ministry of Culture at Point. “This decision does not affect people who hold visas issued before this date or who reside in France or other countries. »
