Since 2012, there has been a real threat of terrorism in Mali. Extremist groups are perpetuating acts of violence which have already resulted in several dozen deaths. However, this deterioration in the security situation has not deterred the government and armed forces from pursuing the peace process. The peace and reconciliation agreement signed by all parties in Algiers in 2015 shows that, despite the difficulties and violence, it is possible for the situation to move in the right direction.

Studio Tamani, the daily radio program launched by Fondation Hirondelle in Mali in 2013, is part of these efforts to move towards peace. Its editorial team, made up of Malian journalists, uses talk and discussion programs to play a role in this process. With broadcasts such as “Grand Dialogue”, Studio Tamani breaks the ice between parties who had previously found dialogue impossible. It is the only media outlet that invites representatives of the Tuareg rebellion into its studios on a regular basis, thus enabling dialogue to take place between all segments of society. Studio Tamani has become an authoritative source of information in the country, especially on the most sensitive issues such as radicalization, female genital mutilation and the rights of women and young people.

With its editorial team of 20 permanent journalists and 35 correspondents across the country, Studio Tamani is able to cover the country’s current affairs every day, with comprehensive and reliable information in five national languages, making it accessible to as many people as possible. The growth of its audience since 2013, to 1.6 million listeners per day at the end of 2015, is proof that it is meeting the people’s need for information. In the face of hate speech and violent impulses, the Fondation Hirondelle continues to focus on dialogue and reliable information as a means of understanding and reconciliation for communities that appear to have all the odds against them.