Burkina Faso conscripts 2 journalists critical of junta, another fears kidnapping
Dakar, November 22, 2023—Burkinabe authorities must revoke the military conscription of journalists Issaka Lingani and Yacouba Ladji Bama and ensure the safety of journalist Boureima Ouedraogo in the face of kidnap threats, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday. In early November, the army ordered Lingani and Bama to report for military training and…
CPJ calls for Burkina Faso to reverse suspension of Jeune Afrique
Dakar, October 4, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday called on Burkinabè authorities to lift their suspension of the French news magazine Jeune Afrique, reverse their suspension of other media outlets, and ensure journalists can work in the West African country without fear of reprisal. On September 25, the government issued an order, reviewed…
Benin and Burkina Faso suspend media outlets over coverage of Niger coup
Dakar, August 15, 2023—Authorities in Benin and Burkina Faso must immediately lift their respective suspensions of La Gazette du Golfe and Radio Oméga, and allow the media to report without fear on regional politics, including the coup in Niger, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On August 8, Benin’s High Authority for Audiovisual and…
Niger blocks RFI and France 24 in wake of coup
New York, August 3, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned Niger’s suspension of broadcasts by French outlets Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24. “Authorities in Niger should immediately unblock access to RFI and France 24’s broadcasts and ensure all media in the country can operate freely and without fear of reprisal,” said Angela…
Burkina Faso suspends third French media outlet in under 8 months
Dakar, July 17, 2023—Burkinabè authorities should immediately reverse the suspension of French television news channel La Chaîne Info (LCI) and stop censoring local and foreign media coverage of the jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso and the Sahel region, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On June 23, Burkina Faso’s media regulator, the Superior Council…
Burkina Faso expels journalists Sophie Douce and Agnès Faivre
New York, April 3, 2023 – Authorities in Burkina Faso on Saturday, April 1, expelled Agnès Faivre and Sophie Douce, correspondents for the French privately owned Liberation and Le Monde newspapers respectively, according to statements published by both outlets condemning the decisions and other media reports. The previous day, state security officials had summoned the…
Burkina Faso indefinitely suspends France 24 over Al-Qaeda interview
New York, March 28, 2023 – Authorities in Burkina Faso on Monday indefinitely suspended French public broadcaster France 24 over an interview with the head of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, according to news reports and the suspension announcement, which accused the outlet of acting as a communication agency for terrorism and legitimizing hate speech. …
Burkina Faso journalists Lamine Traoré and Ahmed Newton Barry threatened via WhatsApp
Lamine Traoré, a reporter with the privately owned Radio Oméga, and Ahmed Newton Barry, former editor-in-chief of the privately owned newspaper L’Evènement, received separate, anonymous threats via WhatsApp groups in early December 2022, according to press reports and both journalists, who are based in Burkina Faso and spoke to CPJ by phone. Traoré, who also…
Burkina Faso suspends French broadcaster RFI
New York, December 5, 2022 – In response to Burkina Faso authorities’ suspension of programming by French broadcaster Radio France Internationale (RFI), the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement Monday condemning the decision: “Burkina Faso authorities should reverse their suspension of RFI programming and ensure that journalists can work without fear of being…
Burkina Faso journalist Ahmed Newton Barry threatened
Dakar, June 30, 2022 – Authorities in Burkina Faso should investigate and hold accountable those responsible for threats made against journalist Ahmed Newton Barry and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Barry told CPJ in a phone interview that on June 10 his lawyer sent him an audio clip, then circulating…