Three journalists from Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, have reportedly disappeared under suspicious circumstances in June.
“The Burkinabe authorities must take all necessary measures to locate and ensure the safety of journalists Adama Bayala, Serge Atiana Oulon, and Kalifara Séré, and ensure that media professionals in Burkina Faso can operate without censorship for their critical reporting,” stated Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa program, in New York.
“The climate of fear in which journalists in Burkina Faso live hampers the public’s ability to stay informed and understand their governance amidst increasing insecurity across the country,” she added.
In mid-June, the national media regulator, High Council for Communication (CSC), temporarily suspended three media outlets.
These include “7 Infos” on the privately-owned TV channel BF1, the privately-owned bimonthly newspaper L’Événement, and the French-language global broadcaster TV5 Monde.
Since transitional president Ibrahim Traoré assumed power in a 2022 military coup, CPJ has reported a decline in press freedom in Burkina Faso, including media suspensions, expulsions of foreign journalists, and attempts to silence critical reporters.
Nancy Mbamalu
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