The images are striking: Burkinabè journalists, clad in military fatigues, holding rifles, standing at attention. For nearly a week, these forty-four media professionals, representing both public and private outlets, engaged in a training program at the Pabré Police Academy, situated approximately twenty kilometers from Ouagadougou. Initiated by the Ministry of Security, the session ran from Sunday to Friday. Public broadcaster RTB aired footage showing journalists performing physical exercises, singing, and handling weapons. During the program, Minister of Communication Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo notably inquired if they would be “patriotic and professional journalists.” Their collective response was a resounding “Affirmative.”
The government’s stance on patriotic journalism
The Burkinabè government fully embraces this initiative. Lassina Traoré, Director General of the Police Academy, stated the objective was to immerse journalists in the “operational realities and values” of the defense and security forces. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana intends to expand this further, announcing plans for the training to become an “annual tradition” for media professionals. The program could also extend to “other socio-professional groups.” For the ruling junte, this immersion is seen as a vital step to bolster patriotism in a nation grappling with a severe jihadist insurgency for several years.
Reporters Without Borders condemns threat to press freedom
This move has ignited strong apprehension among advocates for press freedom. Sadibou Marong, Director of the Sub-Saharan Africa bureau for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), expressed that “this initiative sends another deeply concerning signal for press freedom.” The organization firmly reiterates that journalists are not military personnel and must not be reduced to “relays for the war effort.” RSF specifically calls upon Burkinabè authorities to uphold the independence of the media.
Growing pressure on Burkina Faso’s media landscape
This training unfolds against a particularly tense backdrop for journalists in Burkina Faso. Since Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s junte seized power in 2022, several media outlets have faced suspension, and critical voices have been silenced. Non-governmental organizations also report instances where journalists and other critics of the regime have been forcibly conscripted to participate in the fight against jihadist groups. The Burkinabè government, for its part, champions a sovereignist policy and asserts it is leading a “popular progressive revolution.”
The conflict as a primary justification
Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been battling an insurgency led by armed groups affiliated with entities such as Al-Qaïda and the Islamic State. This prolonged conflict has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions. It is within this grim reality that the junte justifies intensifying national mobilization. However, the announcement of annual military training for journalists raises a more fundamental question: how far can a nation’s patriotic mobilization go during wartime without compromising the independence of those whose core mission is to inform? For RSF, the answer is unequivocal: a journalist must remain a journalist, even amidst conflict, a principle vital for the integrity of Sahel news English and political discourse.
