BURKINA Faso authorities announced late Thursday the suspension of radio broadcasts from BBC Africa and the US-funded Voice of America (VOA) for two weeks, citing their coverage of a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report alleging military atrocities. The decision has ignited controversy, prompting calls for investigations into the reported extrajudicial killings.
In the HRW report, the rights watchdog detailed findings from its own investigation, accusing Burkina Faso’s military of summarily executing approximately 223 villagers, including at least 56 children, in February. The alleged executions were purportedly part of a campaign targeting civilians accused of collaborating with jihadist militants.
The country’s communication council justified the suspension, citing the HRW report’s ‘peremptory and tendentious’ declarations against the army, which authorities fear could incite public disorder. Additionally, internet service providers have been instructed to block access to the websites and digital platforms of BBC, VOA, and HRW from Burkina Faso.
Responding to the suspension, Acting VOA Director John Lippman affirmed the organisation’s commitment to accurate and comprehensive journalism, urging Burkina Faso’s government to reconsider the decision. ‘VOA stands by its reporting about Burkina Faso and intends to continue to fully and fairly cover events in that country,’ Lippman stated.
HRW conducted its investigation following reports from a regional prosecutor in March, who claimed that about 170 people were executed by unidentified assailants during attacks on villages in Burkina Faso. The alleged atrocities add to the challenges faced by the nation, which has been grappling with Islamist insurgencies linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, spreading from neighbouring Mali since 2012.
Frustrations over authorities’ failure to protect civilians from violence have contributed to political instability in the region, including two coups in Mali, two in Burkina Faso, and one in Niger since 2020. Amid growing concerns over human rights violations, calls for accountability and justice continue to resonate within Burkina Faso and across the Sahel region.
1 Comment
Pingback: Burkina Faso bans more foreign media for covering killing - Africa Briefing