Rights organisations to address criminal defamation at African Court
A large group of media and human rights organisations has successfully petitioned the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for leave to act as amicus curiae, or friends of the court, in a case which raises the use of criminal defamation and insult laws to silence government critics.
Opposition protesters attacked by police in Burkina Faso
On 28 July 2013, officers from the Burkinabe Police Unit attacked and fired teargas at large groups of opposition protesters who were demonstrating against the creation of a second senate in the National Assembly, the country’s legislative body.
Journalists protest government control of state-owned media in Burkina Faso
Employees of Burkina Radio and Burkina Television, among others, staged a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Communications to protest government censorship. The protest was triggered by a recent directive from the Ministry of Communications’ chief director to edit a news story about a 29 June opposition protest.
Murdered West African journalists symbols of impunity
A day after the 14th anniversary of Norbert Zongo’s murder in Burkina Faso and two days before the 8th anniversary of Deyda Hydara’s murder in Gambia, Reporters Without Borders accuses the authorities in these two countries of sabotaging the investigations into their deaths and encouraging impunity.
Journalists convicted on criminal defamation charges in Burkina Faso
Two journalists in Burkina Faso were sentenced to 12-month prison terms in connection with their allegations of corruption at the state prosecutor’s office.
Radio host suspended for attending opposition meeting
Sam K. Le Jah’s suspension coincided with his attending a meeting organised by an opposition political party demanding the resignation of President Compaoré.
Mob prevents state TV journalists from covering labour meeting
A large crowd prevented Arsène Evariste Kabore and Issa Kafando from covering a meeting between Burkinabe labour unions and the government.
Angry university students attack state TV crew
Ahmadou Dicko and Urbain Somé were violently attacked by a group of angry students who accused the RTB of censoring their previous protests about the death of their colleague.
Call to combat impunity on 12th anniversary of journalist’s murder
On the 12th anniversary of newspaper editor Norbert Zongo’s murder, RSF urges authorities to relaunch the investigation into his death.
Media regulatory body suspends television station
On 26 October 2009, the Supreme Council for Communication directed the management of TVZ Africa to suspend transmission for technical reasons.
Journalists from magazine “Reporter” and newspaper “l’Événement” receive anonymous death threats for criticising government officials
(MFWA/IFEX) – Several journalists of the “Reporter”, an independent monthly magazine, as well as journalist Newton Ahmed Barry of privately-owned weekly newspaper “l’Événement” have received death threats via e-mail for allegedly criticising three top government officials. In a February 2009 edition of the “Reporter”, the magazine published a letter from an anonymous source that identified […]
Police summon heads of Collective against Impunity two days after march on 10th anniversary of journalist’s murder
(RSF/IFEX) – On 15 December 2008, Reporters Without Borders voiced its surprise after police in the capital Ouagadougou summoned the leaders of the Collective against Impunity in Burkina Faso, two days after it organised a march to mark the 10th anniversary of the murder of the editor of the “L’Indépendant”. On the sidelines of the […]
Protesters rename Ouagadougou avenue after slain journalist on 10th anniversary of murder
(RSF/IFEX) – On 13 December 2008, Reporters Without Borders marked the 10th anniversary of journalist Norbert Zongo’s murder by organising a protest in which stickers were used to rename one of the capital’s avenues after Zongo. The editor of the weekly “L’Indépendant”, Zongo and three companions were murdered in the southern town of Sapouy on […]
Freedom of the Press 2007: Burkina Faso
Freedom of the Press 2007: Burkina Faso
Killers of journalist Norbert Zongo still not brought to justice nine years after his death
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN letter to President Blaise Compaore: His Excellency Blaise Compaore President of Burkina Faso Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 7 December 2007 Your Excellency, On the ninth anniversary of the murder of journalist Norbert Zongo, we are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, […]
Fire destroys radio presenter’s car
(MFWA/IFEX) – Sam S K Le Jah, a presenter with Ouaga FM, a private radio station in Ouaga 2000, a suburb of Ouagadougou, escaped death on 28 September 2007, when his car parked outside the station caught fire and was completely destroyed. A Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) correspondent reported that although the causes […]