In a coordinated effort led by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), nearly 30 media organizations and human rights advocates have united to defend press freedom across Mali and Burkina Faso. Through an open letter addressed to both governments, regional bodies, and the international community, they are calling for an end to all forms of coercion and intimidation targeting journalists, both local and foreign.

The coalition emphasizes the need for authorities to honor the international commitments made by both countries regarding freedom of expression and press freedom, particularly adherence to the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The coalition’s signatories include local media outlets such as Joliba Tv News in Mali and Lefaso.net in Burkina Faso. They are joined by press freedom and journalist rights organizations like the African Journalists Federation (FAJ), the International Francophone Press Union (UPF), and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), as well as international media partners.

The open letter coincides with the release of the latest World Press Freedom Index, which reveals a troubling decline in press freedom in both countries. Burkina Faso now ranks 58th, while Mali sits at 113th out of 180 nations.

Open Letter Demands Protection for Journalists in Mali and Burkina Faso

The letter is addressed to high-ranking officials, including:

• The Chairperson of the African Union Heads of State and Government Conference
• The Chairperson of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Conference
• The Chairperson of the WAEMU Heads of State and Government Conference
• The Chairperson of the African Union Commission
• The Chairperson of the ECOWAS Commission
• The Chairperson of the WAEMU Commission
• The President of the Pan-African Parliament
• The United Nations Secretary-General
• The President of the UN Human Rights Council
• The UNESCO Director-General
• The Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie
• Heads of media regulatory bodies in ECOWAS member states
• The President of the Francophone Media Regulators Network
• Heads of broadcasting regulators from WAEMU and Guinea
• Communication Ministers from ECOWAS countries
• The President of the African Union of Broadcasting

The letter highlights severe threats to press freedom in both countries, including:

• Death threats against journalists and opinion leaders
• Intimidation and harassment of national media
• Fabricated charges against journalists
• Suspension of international media outlets like RFI and France 24
• Expulsion of foreign correspondents from Libération and Le Monde

In Burkina Faso, recent government actions have severely restricted citizens’ right to information. Similar pressures are mounting in Mali, where journalists face growing risks:

• On February 20, 2023, the Press House in Bamako was ransacked.
• On March 13, journalist Mohamed Youssouf Bathily (known as Ras Bath) was arrested for criticizing the alleged assassination of former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga.
• On March 15, Rokia Doumbia (“Rose vie chère”) was detained for reporting on price hikes and the transition’s failures.
• On April 6, journalist Aliou Touré was abducted and held for four days before being released.
• In February 2022, a Jeune Afrique reporter was expelled from Bamako.
• In March 2023, RFI and France 24 were blocked nationwide.
• From November to December 2022, Joliba TV was suspended by the High Authority for Communication (HAC) for airing a critical editorial.

In both nations, pro-military social media influencers amplify threats against independent journalists, spreading disinformation and undermining democratic debate. The L’Observateur Paalga has described this as “a reign of terror”.

The situation has escalated to the point where even regulatory bodies are voicing concerns. On March 29, 2023, Burkina Faso’s Superior Council of Communication (CSC) issued a statement expressing “regret over the recurring threats against media outlets and journalists,” urging authorities to take “appropriate measures to ensure their safety.”

Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed deep concern over Burkina Faso’s media landscape, stating, “In this transitional period, protecting independent voices is more critical than ever.”

Alioune Tine, the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights in Mali, has also raised alarms about the “shrinking civic space” and “restrictions on freedom of expression and association.”

The coalition’s demands include:

• Halting all measures that violate press freedom in Mali and Burkina Faso.
• Ensuring security for journalists facing threats, intimidation, or physical attacks.
• Conducting impartial and transparent investigations into abuses against media professionals.
• Upholding international obligations, including the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
• Supporting this initiative at the highest levels to defend the fundamental right to information.