Two prominent journalists in Burkina Faso have been released after four months in detention, marking a partial victory for press freedom advocates amid ongoing concerns over media suppression in the country. Guezouma Sanogo, president of the Burkina Journalists’ Association (AJB), and Phil Roland Zongo, a journalist with Radio Femina FM, reunited with their families on July 21 following their abduction in late March. Their release comes days after three other journalists—Boukari Ouoba, Luc Pagbelguem, and Kalifara Séré—regained freedom, though advocacy groups warn that others remain missing or detained.
Sanogo and Zongo were forcibly taken by suspected state agents after publicly criticizing government control over media and demanding the release of colleagues. Sanogo, arrested on March 24 at a press center in Ouagadougou, had denounced the use of state media as “propaganda tools” during an AJB congress days earlier. Zongo, seized from his home on March 23, had similarly condemned the targeting of journalists. Their detentions occurred in the eastern Fada N’Gourma region, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which confirmed their release.
The advocacy group welcomed the journalists’ return but emphasized that their detentions were unlawful. “These abductions followed their calls to end media repression,” RSF stated, urging authorities to clarify the whereabouts of Serge Oulon, Adama Bayala, and Alain Traoré—journalists still missing or detained. The organization also criticized Burkina Faso’s “culture of silence,” accusing officials of failing to address systemic press freedom violations.
The releases follow a pattern of brief relief amid prolonged crises. Kalifara Séré, a BF1 television columnist, was freed on July 11 after over 380 days in detention. Colleagues Ouoba and Pagbelguem, both affiliated with AJB and BF1, were released four days before Sanogo and Zongo. While no official explanation was provided for the detentions, observers link them to the journalists’ critiques of media censorship and alleged state-sponsored intimidation.
Burkina Faso’s communication ministry, led by spokesperson Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouedraogo, has not responded to RSF’s requests for comment. The lack of transparency underscores broader concerns about press freedom in the Sahel nation, where journalists reporting on security issues or governance risks face increasing threats.
RSF’s latest appeal highlights the precarious environment for media workers, noting that at least two journalists remain in custody. The group called for an end to “targeted conscription” of critics and independent voices, stressing that such practices undermine democratic principles. As Burkina Faso grapples with political instability and insurgency-related violence, the fate of missing journalists serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing press freedom in the region.
