Burkina Faso has taken further measures to suspend foreign media outlets due to their coverage of a report accusing its army of killing 223 civilians.
The report, published by Human Rights Watch (HRW), suggested that the massacre in February was a retaliatory act against villagers supporting armed Islamists.
The military government of Burkina Faso has denied these allegations and has already suspended the BBC and Voice of America for reporting on HRW’s findings.
The UK and US governments jointly criticized this action, emphasizing the importance of free and independent media in conducting investigations and reporting without fear of reprisals.
Burkina Faso, currently under a military junta following a coup in 2022, faces ongoing challenges with Islamist insurgency, leading to increased tensions.
Recently, Burkina Faso’s communications regulator announced the suspension of broadcasts from French network TV5Monde for two weeks and blocked access to its website.
Additionally, websites of several other foreign media outlets, including Deutsche Welle (DW), Le Monde, Ouest-France, the Guardian, APA, and Ecofin, have been barred until further notice.
HRW’s report detailed alleged killings by Burkina Faso’s military in two villages, Soro and Nondin, condemning them as the country’s “worst army abuse” in nearly a decade.
The government has strongly refuted these accusations, citing an ongoing inquiry to establish facts.
DW has called for the unblocking of its website in Burkina Faso, highlighting the importance of independent information for the public.
International bodies and human rights groups have also raised concerns about human rights violations in Burkina Faso’s fight against Islamist groups.
The media regulator in Burkina Faso has warned all outlets against covering the HRW report, prompting criticism from organizations like the BBC and VOA, who reaffirm their commitment to reporting in the public interest.
Source-BBC
