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The military government of Burkina Faso has suspended the US-funded Voice of America (VOA) for three months, following a controversial discussion about the ongoing insurgency in the Sahel region. The suspension also includes a temporary ban on local media using international news reports.
The move is part of a growing trend of intolerance towards criticism from the military government, which seized power in September 2022. Despite initial promises to combat the insurgency, military leaders are facing increasing frustration over their inability to protect citizens.
The Superior Council for Communication (CSC) accused VOA of undermining the morale of Burkinabe and Malian troops by describing a recent attack in Bamako as “courageous” and criticizing security operations. The CSC also cited an unverified death toll from an August attack in Burkina Faso.
In its statement, the CSC declared that all synchronization of national media with international media is suspended until further notice. VOA has yet to respond to requests for comments.
Burkina Faso is one of several Sahel nations struggling with violence from insurgent groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS, which have expanded from neighboring Mali since 2012. Thousands of people have died, and millions have been displaced. Public dissatisfaction over the government’s failure to ensure safety has fueled military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since 2020.
This development is just the latest in a series of restrictions on media freedoms in Burkina Faso. Earlier this year, the government briefly suspended VOA and other international broadcasters, including BBC Africa, following a Human Rights Watch report that accused the military of extrajudicial killings. In September, the CSC also revoked the radio frequencies of France’s RFI, known for its coverage of the Sahel, without explanation.
As media freedoms come under increasing threat, the situation in Burkina Faso reflects a broader trend of declining press freedom in the region.
