Following the release of a report implicating the Burkinabè army in civilian killings, Burkina Faso’s media regulator has expanded its suspension of international media outlets. The latest bans include the French network TV-Cinq, as well as the websites of Le Monde and the Guardian, along with the German broadcaster, Deutsche Welle.
These actions come in the wake of a two-week ban imposed on BBC and Voice of America (VOA) by Burkinabè authorities for their coverage of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report. The Superior Council for Communication (CSC) asserted that the coverage of the HRW report by the newly suspended outlets is deemed “disinformation likely to bring discredit to the Burkinabè army.”
Emphasizing its stance, the media regulator reiterated warnings to all outlets against covering the report, threatening potential sanctions for non-compliance. The HRW report, released last Thursday, accused the Burkinabè military of allegedly massacring over 223 civilians in the country’s north in February.
Burkina Faso’s authorities have vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing the HRW report as “baseless accusations.” They have initiated a legal inquiry to ascertain the veracity of the claims and establish factual evidence.
