Burkina Faso

In the wake of a second military coup in Burkina Faso, the MFWA expresses its concern over the continued negative impact of military takeovers on media rights in the West African region.

The growing precariousness of journalists comes at a time of increased freedom of expression and media rights violations across the region, which is forcing many journalists to self-censor or abandon the profession.

The calculated paralysis of Burkina Faso’s media regulator, the Superior Council for Communication (CSC), is a contributing factor to increasing attacks on the media and the continuing decline in quality journalism.

The 35-year-old Burkinabé man who produced an audio threatening prominent journalist Newton Ahmed Barry, is facing charges of hate speech and incitement through social networks.

Since May, four journalists in Burkina Faso have been the target of violent threats.

After Burkinabé journalist Newton Ahmed Barry questions Mali’s relationship with Russian mercenaries, an anonymous audio surfaces on social media, threatening the commentator.

Incidences of physical violence and death threats by officials against journalists on the rise in Burkina Faso.

During the military takeover in Burkina Faso, journalists Henry Wilkins and Sam Mednick were briefly detained, while local journalist Ibrahim Compaoré was badly injured during protests.

Deeply concerned by the serial violations in the lead up to the coup in Burkina Faso, the MFWA urges the military junta to uphold freedom of expression.

No stranger to being under attack Burkinabe journalist Yacouba Ladji Bama was shot at, on his way home after co-hosting a panel discussion on electoral corruption.

Security is a factor in Burkina Faso’s election, with implications for disenfranchised voters and media safety, as is the uneven allocation of airtime to certain candidates.

Authorities in Burkina Faso are being asked to investigate an attack on journalist Yacouba Ladji Bama at his home and the destruction of his property.

Compelling, in-depth investigative features are being produced by West African journalists through an MFWA programme support for critical, independent and high-quality reports on issues of governance, accountability and transparency.

Newly passed revisions to Burkina Faso’s Penal code criminalize false news or communication of news or information that causes “demoralization” of defense and security forces “by whatever means.”

Authorities in Burkina Faso arrested and detained an activist for his social media posting criticising the National Gendarmerie.

Burkinabe journalist Lohé Issa Konaté has been awarded US$70,000 in compensation for the injury he suffered following his conviction on criminal defamation charges and subsequent one-year detention in 2012.