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Burkina Faso military bans Radio France International

Burkina Faso’s military Junta government has prohibited French media outlet Radio France International (RFI) from broadcasting in the country.

• December 6, 2022
Radio France Internationale's logo
Radio France Internationale Photo Credit; Coral Riff Management

Burkina Faso’s military Junta government has prohibited French media outlet Radio France International (RFI) from broadcasting in the country.

According to a statement issued by the Burkinabe military junta, Radio France International falsely reported on an alleged aborted coup attempt last week, giving voice to Islamist extremists.

Military leaders in Ouagadougou blamed the restriction on erroneous RFI reporting, which the junta described as false. 

Critics contend that the military is seeking to censor news and information to combat the rising instability.

After Mali, Burkina Faso is the second nation in West Africa to stop airing the French broadcaster. The military governs both nations.

But after the ban, announced on Saturday, RFI released a statement expressing its strong condemnation of the government’s actions and pledged to “examine all alternatives to restore RFI’s broadcasting.”

Reporters Without Borders— RSF said the authorities’ decision would prevent other journalists from reporting on terrorism and could be illegal.

“CSC is the media regulator, which according to the law, has the prerogative to suspend or sanction the media. Unless the law has been changed this is also a violation of the media regulation laws,” said Sadibou Marong, RSF’s West Africa director.

For more than six years, Burkina Faso has been at war with terrorists connected to the Islamic State and al-Qaida. 

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