The world of culture, through the voice of several professional unions, protested Thursday after an administration directive requesting the suspension of all collaboration with artists from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

“For security reasons, since August 7, France has suspended the issuance of visas from Niamey, Ouagadougou and Bamako, as well as the implementation of our cultural cooperation actions in these countries,” explained the ministry.

Questioned by AFP, the Ministry of Culture clarified that it had not requested “any deprogramming of artists, of any nationality whatsoever”.

“This decision does not affect people who hold visas issued before this date or who reside in France or in other countries,” he added.

In a press release published Thursday, the Syndeac (National Union of Artistic and Cultural Enterprises) and its counterparts the Aac, the Accn, the A-CDCN, the ACDN and the ASN reacted strongly to the message they provide having received on Wednesday “from the DRAC”, the regional cultural directorates, and “written on the instructions of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs”.

“This message with a threatening tone asks our members to suspend, until further notice, all cooperation with the following countries: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso,” the unions said in a press release.

“All cooperation projects which 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”, specifies the message, sent by email and that AFP was able to consult.

“All financial support must also be suspended, including via French structures, such as associations for example. In the same way, no invitation from any national of these countries must be launched,” continues the message.

It was “relayed by all the DRACs”, a manager from that of Occitanie told AFP, interviewed by telephone.

On July 29 and August 6, France interrupted all its development aid and budget support actions with Niger and Burkina Faso. In November 2022, she had already done so for Mali.

“The cultural sphere is impacted like others by the closure of consular and security services,” a source close to the matter told AFP.

14/09/2023 23:54:20 –         Paris (AFP) –         © 2023 AFP