Office de radiodiffusion télévision du Mali (Ortm) started a new strike yesterday January 27, 2016. According to Ortm’s union committee, the strike is to go on until January 29 at midnight.

This movement follows another which took place on the 22 and 23 of December 2015. Since then, a noxious climate has settled within the state-owned audiovisual company. At the time, no agreement could be reached by Ortm’s union committee and ministry of digital economy, information and communication.

This conclusion is due to the various claims of the union. Among these there is the cancellation of laws concerning the restructuring of Ortm. The committee also demands the harmonization of the status of various entities which are to be created in the framework of the restructuring. A memorandum was sent to Prime Minister to contest the separation of the institution; the radio and the television would be separated. Ortm remains an administrative public institution (Epa) while the committee wants it to be operating as a commercial public institution (Epic).

Other claims regard the ratification of a law on television licence and the re-establishment of the advertising department within Ortm.

After a new reading, the Act 87-102 on communication’s peculiar status must be adopted. Moreover, the union committee also demands the launching of big projects such as Ortm’s tower for which first stone has been laid on September 21, 2011.

Another issue is the compensation of Ortm’s agents who suffered prejudice during the coup d’Etat that took place on March 22, 2012.