Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta expelled the correspondents of two major French daily newspapers, “Le Monde” and “Liberation” on the evening of Saturday, April 1, in a new sign of the deterioration of press freedom and relations with France in this scarred country. Jihadist violence.
The French army is paying the price for its inability to stop jihadist violence in the Sahel
The expulsion of Sophie Doss of “Monde” and Agnès Vivre of “Liberation”, who arrived Sunday, April 2 in the morning in Paris, came five days after the suspension of France 24 TV channel and four months after the suspension of Radio France broadcasts. Internationale (RFI). Only the French media have so far been sanctioned by the Burkina Faso authorities.
sequel after announcement
Since Captain Brahim Traoré seized power on September 30, 2022, the second coup in eight months in Burkina Faso, relations with Paris have deteriorated, after Ouagadougou demanded and obtained the departure of the French ambassador and 400 French special forces stationed in the capital. Country. In early March, Burkina also denounced the military aid agreement signed in 1961 with France.
“Freedom of the press in Burkina Faso is in grave danger”
Le Monde and Liberation announced, on Sunday morning, the expulsion of their journalists by denouncing one of the measures “unacceptable” And “arbitrary”which confirms by sec “Freedom of the press in Burkina Faso is seriously threatened”.
“world” on its part “condemns in the strongest terms this arbitrary decision”indicating that “Sophie Doss, like her colleague, does freelance journalism at Le Monde Africa, without any pressure”.
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The newspaper’s director, Jerome Fenoglio, “Calls on the local authorities to reverse these decisions as soon as possible and immediately reinstate the conditions for the country’s independent inquiry.”.
sequel after announcement
According to the Liberation website, “Agnès Faivre and Sophie Douce are journalists of complete integrity, who worked in Burkina Faso legally, with valid visas and accreditations issued by the government of Burkina Faso”. “We strongly protest these unjustified expulsions and the ban on our journalists working independently.”newspaper adds.
Essentially, Liberation investigates military abuses
The two journalists had been summoned on Friday 31 March in Ouagadougou to National Security and then ordered to leave Burkina Faso within 24 hours. Before leaving, Agnès Vivre told AFP that this had notified her “orally”.
I was also summoned yesterday (Friday) to the State Security Department. Then this morning (Saturday) an officer came to my house to verbally inform me that I had 24 hours to leave the area. There is no written notice or reason. I find it difficult to comprehend and comprehend.”For her part, said Sophie Doss. Burkina Faso authorities did not issue any statement on this matter on Sunday morning.
These expulsions come just days after Liberation on March 27 published an investigation into the case Video clip showing children and teens executed in a military barracks by at least one soldier. in northern Burkina Faso. this study “It is clear that he has aroused great discontent in Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta.”Highlights daily.
sequel after announcement
“The government strongly condemns these manipulations disguised as press uniforms to tarnish the country’s image.”Burkina Faso government spokesperson Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo wrote after this investigation was published, stressing that the military is acting “With strict adherence to international humanitarian law”.
spiral of violence since 2015
On Monday, the transitional government cut off the broadcast of France 24 on its territory after decrypting an interview with the leader of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, four months after suspending RFI radio broadcasts.
Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo had indicated that these two outlets were accused of committing attacks “They opened their antennas to terrorist leaders to spread the ideology of terrorism, violence and division.”.
Benin faces the creeping jihadist threat
In the wake of neighboring Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso has since 2015 been caught up in a spiral of violence attributed to jihadist groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS), which continues to grow. It has killed more than 10,000 people – civilians and soldiers – according to NGOs, and displaced around 2 million people internally.
Reporters Without Borders Secretary General Christophe Deloire denounced this double expulsion to AFP. “arbitrary, scandalous, unworthy, not even publicly advised in writing”. After the dismissal of the ambassador, we adopt the logic of dismissing journalists as if they were a variable to adjust diplomatic tensions: it is absurd.He added saying that “The regime wants to cover up its violations”.
