Since Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in Burkina Faso in a September 2022 coup, the country has witnessed a series of actions against international media outlets. The latest targets are the BBC and Voice of America radio networks, suspended for airing a report accusing the army of attacking civilians in its fight against jihadists.
“The programmes of these two international radio networks broadcasting from Ouagadougou have been suspended for a period of two weeks,” announced the communications authority late on Thursday.
The decision came after both BBC Africa and VOA aired and published a report on their digital platforms accusing the Burkinabe army of abuses against civilians. The Communications Authority stated that the report contained “hasty and biased declarations without tangible proof against the Burkinabe army.”
International NGO Human Rights Watch reported that soldiers in Burkina Faso’s jihadist-hit north killed at least 223 villagers, including 56 children, in two revenge attacks on February 25. However, Burkinabe authorities have not commented on these accusations.
Burkina Faso has been battling jihadist attacks since 2015, with groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State carrying out numerous attacks. Around 20,000 people have been killed in Burkina Faso, and approximately two million have been displaced since then.
In response to the HRW report, VOA stated that they had sought reactions from several Burkinabe officials but received no response. They intended “to continue to fully and fairly cover activities in the country.”
The CSC directed internet service providers to suspend access to the sites and digital platforms of the BBC, VOA, and HRW from Burkina Faso. It argued that the approach of the BBC and VOA “undermines the cardinal principles of information processing” and could create disturbances to public order.
The communications authority urged all other media to refrain from carrying the article, warning of potential sanctions for offenders.
Under Traore’s leadership, Burkina Faso has distanced itself from France, its former colonial ruler. The government has targeted several French media outlets with suspensions, bans, or the expulsion of foreign correspondents.
Sadibou Marong of media watchdog Reporters Without Borders condemned the suspensions of VOA and BBC, calling them “abusive” and a “flagrant violation of the right to information.”
He stated that both media outlets had only published “information of general interest for the Burkinabe population.”
