Burkina Faso’s escalating crackdown on press freedom: french journalists expelled
The transitional military government in Burkina Faso has delivered another blow to media freedom, ordering the departure of two French journalists, Agnès Faivre of Libération and Sophie Douce from Le Monde. Both reporters possessed valid visas and official accreditations, underscoring the arbitrary nature of their removal from the country.
Reports from both newspapers indicate that on March 31, national intelligence agents summoned and questioned the two journalists in Ouagadougou, the capital city, concerning their professional activities. Subsequently, they were given a mere 24 hours to depart the nation, with no official explanation provided for their forced exit.
In an editorial, Libération declared the move to expel its correspondent “unjustified,” connecting it to her March 27 investigation into a video. This footage, allegedly shot at a military barracks in Ouahigouya, Yatenga province, depicted children’s corpses on the ground alongside individuals in what appeared to be Burkinabè military attire. Le Monde, for its part, labeled these expulsions “unacceptable” and “vehemently condemned this arbitrary decision,” highlighting the severe impact on Burkina Faso’s media landscape.
These journalist expulsions represent the latest incident in a series of assaults on free expression and media operations in Burkina Faso. Preceding this event was the March 27 suspension of international French news channel France 24, and before that, on December 3, 2022, the halt of broadcasts by French international radio station Radio France Internationale (RFI). The Burkinabè government accused both outlets of disseminating false information.
Prominent Burkinabè human rights activist Daouda Diallo, a 2022 Martin Ennals Award laureate—the highest honor for human rights defenders—asserted, « The junta is inflicting irreparable harm on freedom of expression in this nation. » He further emphasized, « Journalism is not a crime, and it must cease to be a perilous profession in Burkina Faso. »
Both local and international journalists, along with news organizations operating in Burkina Faso, are increasingly subjected to harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary detentions. This pattern reflects a blatant attempt by the military junta to suppress independent and critical information sources within the country, severely impacting press freedom in Burkina Faso.
With Burkina Faso grappling with an armed conflict against Islamist groups, journalists must be allowed to operate without fear of retribution. The transitional military authorities should reverse their decision, enabling Agnès Faivre and Sophie Douce to return. Crucially, these authorities must dismantle all barriers impeding the vital work of journalists who serve to inform and educate the Burkinabè populace.
