Burkina Faso military junta bans Voice of America

Burkina Faso has suspended Voice of America (VOA) for three months, citing comments related to jihadist attacks in the Sahel region.

This suspension comes amid rising tensions surrounding the country’s handling of Islamist insurgencies, Diaspora Digital Media understands.

The Superior Council for Communication (CSC) accused VOA of demoralising Burkinabe and Malian troops after a report on September 19 described a recent jihadist attack on Bamako as “courageous” and criticised security operations.

According to the CSC, the report also contained an inaccurate death toll from an August attack in Burkina Faso that left hundreds of persons dead.

As part of the action, the CSC has also halted synchronisation between national and international media sources until further notice.

VOA has not yet commented on the situation.

Burkina Faso, alongside other Sahel countries like Mali and Niger, continues to face severe Islamist insurgencies linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State, with the conflict displacing millions and causing thousands of deaths since it began in 2012.

Frustration with authorities’ response to the insurgency has led to multiple coups in the region, including Burkina Faso’s own military junta seizing power in September 2022.

The junta had previously suspended VOA, BBC Africa, and other outlets for their coverage of alleged human rights violations by the Burkinabe military, which the army denies.

Most recently, the CSC revoked the frequencies of France’s RFI radio without explanation, following a pattern of media restrictions in the country.

The junta’s relationship with the media

The relationship between Burkina Faso’s military junta and the media has been tumultuous, marked by restrictions on press freedom and censorship.

The junta has suspended several media outlets, including three foreign broadcasters and 13 international media organizations, for their coverage of alleged military killings of civilians and reports on terrorism.

This move has been widely condemned by media advocacy groups, who see it as an attempt to stifle criticism and silence dissenting voices.

The junta’s actions have also included conscripting critical journalists into the army’s fight against terrorism and cutting off radio signals for airing interviews with critics of the military regime.

The international community has criticized the junta’s actions, with organizations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Press Institute (IPI) condemning the suspensions and calling for the junta to respect press freedom.

These actions have raised concerns about the junta’s commitment to transparency and accountability, perpetuating a climate of fear and oppression.

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